Nuweiba

Nuweiba (also spelled: Nueiba; Arabic: نويبع‎‎, IPA: [neˈweːbeʕ]) is a coastal town in the eastern part of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Located on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba.

History

Historically, the area was inhabited by two different Bedouin tribes: the Tarabin to the north, and the Muzeina, some 8 km (5 mi) to the south. After the Six Day War when Israel occupied the area, Nuweiba Town was established just 1.5 km (1 mi) south of Tarabeen, under the Israeli name, Neviot (Hebrew: נביעות‎‎). After the departure of the Israelis, the town expanded and Nuweiba Port, some 7 km (4 mi) to the south, was established and developed, with several car ferries now running every day to Aqaba in Jordan by the Arab Bridge Maritime company, and with a small town growing up around itself.

Nuweiba castle (or Newibah castle), built on top of the remains of a still older castle in 1893, has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.^[1]

Geography

Nuweiba lies on a large flood plain measuring about 40 km² (15 sq mi),sandwiched between the Sinai mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba, and is located some 150 km (90 mi) north of Sharm el Sheikh, 465 km (290 mi) southeast from Cairo and 70 km (40 mi) south of the Israel–Egypt border separating Taba and Eilat. Nuweiba Port was built in 1985 on the Gulf of Aqaba, and serves as a ferry port as well, which allows for easy travel between Jordan and Egypt.