Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt
Coordinates: 29.462334, 34.859603
Pharaoh’s Island is an island in the northern Gulf of Aqaba some 200 meters east off the shore of Egypt’s eastern Sinai Peninsula. The island is 350 metres long north-south, and up to 170 metres wide. The area is 3.9 hectares
The castle was captured by Hz. Salahuddin Ayyubi رحمة الله عليه in 1170 and used as an Arab stronghold against the Crusaders until 1183 when it was eventually abandoned.
History
Although the Crusaders reached the head of the Gulf of Aqaba in 1116, they did not take control of the oasis of Aila, which was in Muslim hands as late as 1154.
In the early 1160s, the Crusaders allegedly built a castle on Pharaoh’s Island.
In December 1170, Saladin conquered the island and reconstructed the citadel and left a garrison of men there.
In November 1181, Raynald of Châtillon raided the Arab-held Aila and attempted to set up a naval blockade against the Muslim troops there during the winter of 1182 to 1183.
The blockade consisted of only two ships and was not successful.
The Mamluk governor of the city of Aqaba lived in the citadel until some time in the 14th century, around 1320, when the seat of governorship was moved into the city itself.
Present
Because of its location near Jordan and Palestine, the island and its coral reefs have become a popular sightseeing attraction among tourists based in Taba, Eilat, and Aqaba.
Surrounded by fabulous reefs, Pharaoh’s Island is very popular with divers. The island is just 250 m (820 ft) from the shore, close to the border with Palestine
Know This
Take a taxi from Taba, make sure you have your passports as you will need them to cross by boat to the island. You leave them where you get on the boat and they are returned to you when you return from the island.
There is a small hotel there, Salhadeen Hotel, where you can get a drink and something to eat, also there is a small shop there.
The trip from the hotel to the island is literally minutes.
