The Nabq area, in particular, appears as an icon of nature, with a distinct rainbow emerging in a magnificent scene.
The Reserve Specifications
When was the Nabq Reserve established?
It was established in 1992.
What is its area?
It covers an area of 600 km².
This encompasses the Nabq area—comprising the Nabq Nature Reserve and the Nabq tourist center (Charming Sharm, owned by Abdul Rahman Al-Sharbatly), which adjoins the reserve's southern boundary. The reserve spans 600 square kilometers. The southern section of the reserve is known as Wadi Umm Adawi.
The Location
Nabq Protected Area is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Sharm El-Sheikh in the South Sinai Governorate.
It is bounded to the north by the line connecting the 75 km mark (on the Sharm El-Sheikh–Taba road) and the 151 km mark (on the Taba road), passing through Wadi Qani Al-Rabban; to the east by a line extending 3–5 km inland from the coral reefs, passing through Wadi Umm Adawi until it meets the Sharm El-Sheikh–Taba road; and to the west by the Sharm El-Sheikh–Taba road, spanning the section between its intersection with Wadi Umm Adawi and its intersection with Wadi Qani Al-Rabban.
The Nearest City in South Sinai
Dahab is the closest city to the protected area in South Sinai.
Sharm El-Sheikh and Naama Bay
Sharm El-Sheikh is considered the most famous and frequently visited resort city in South Sinai, followed by Naama Bay. Both are renowned tourist destinations in Sinai; however, few tourists are aware that one of Egypt's most beautiful areas lies just a short drive away.
The Notable Ecosystems in Nabq Protected Area
The significance of the Nabq area lies in its diverse and important ecosystems, which include:
The Coral Reefs
You can learn about the importance of coral reefs at this link
The Features of Nabq Protected Area
The Mangrove Forests
Nabq Protected Area is home to mangrove forests that grow densely along a 4.5-kilometer stretch of its coastline. These forests serve as vital breeding grounds for fish, invertebrates, and birds. The mangrove trees here reach a maximum height of approximately five meters. The area is also distinguished by its coral reefs and diverse marine and terrestrial wildlife; we have previously discussed its significance in detail—please visit the dedicated link provided above.
The Sand Dunes
The sand dunes covered with vegetation in Nabq Reserve
If you would like to learn more about the importance of sand dunes, please visit this link
The Wetlands
The wetlands are of immense importance to communities—both rural and urban—regarding both climate change and the broader environment. They provide water for farmers without requiring additional supplies and help combat the harsh reality we face today—a situation UN Secretary-General Guterres has described not merely as "climate change," but as "global boiling." It is therefore crucial that we understand the significance of these shallow waters—which, in some towns and cities, are unfortunately used as dumping grounds by residents who lack an adequate understanding of the vital role these ponds play in their physical and mental well-being. Let us explore this together.
The White Sand
The reserve is distinguished by its pure white sand, which offers numerous benefits and various industrial and other uses. Let us learn more about this via the following link.
An oasis of brackish water
The Wadis (valleys)
And the wildlife they harbor, such as:
Gazelles
Ibex
Hyenas
Reptiles
Many resident and migratory birds
Invertebrates
The significance of the Nabq Protected Area
The Nabq area is considered a multi-purpose nature reserve.
Its importance lies in the presence of several significant ecosystems, including:
The Coral reefs
The northernmost mangrove forest, which grows densely along a 4.5 km stretch of the coast, alongside vegetated sand dunes.
The wetlands and seagrass beds
* An oasis of brackish water, mountainous desert ecosystems, and wadis, along with the wildlife they support—such as gazelles, ibex, hyenas, reptiles, and numerous resident and migratory birds, as well as various invertebrates.
The mountainous desert ecosystems
The vegetation-covered sand dunes
Water oases
Mangrove forests
Natural wealth of the Nabq Reserve
Nabq is distinguished by its diverse ecosystems, featuring a mountainous desert environment with sand dunes at Wadi Kid—interspersed with valleys rich in native flora—as well as mangrove forests (*Avicennia marina*). Additionally, the Gulf seabed in this area teems with:
Coral reefs
Colorful fish
Invertebrates
Shellfish
Its wildlife is exceptionally valuable, including:
Gazelles
Nubian ibex
Tora hartebeests
Foxes
Rock hyraxes
Various rodent species
Reptiles
As for birdlife, the reserve attracts migratory species such as:
Ospreys
Waders
Herons
Notable plants in the Nabq Reserve
The reserve is home to approximately 134 plant species, including:
About 86 rare species, some of which have completely disappeared from other locations.
The most famous plant in the Nabq Protected Area is the mangrove—locally known as *shori*. This area marks the northernmost tropical limit for the growth and clustering of this plant within the Indian Ocean and Red Sea regions. Mangroves thrive in saline or brackish waters—particularly where flash-flood channels meet the sea—where they extract fresh water and excrete salt through their leaves; a layer of salt is often visible on the underside of the foliage. Mangroves play a vital role in stabilizing coastlines and trapping sediment. Furthermore, mangrove forests serve as crucial breeding grounds for fish and invertebrates, as well as habitats for numerous migratory and resident bird species. Mangrove trees here reach a maximum height of approximately five meters.
**The Inhabitants of the Protected Area**
The certain Bedouin tribes reside in the area...
**The Popular Tourist Activities in Nabq Protected Area**
The area is a major attraction for enthusiasts of:
Diving
Safari excursions
Birdwatching
The Major Challenges Facing the Nabq Protected Area
The rainfall and Flash Floods
At this time each year, the protected area—along with various parts of Sharm El-Sheikh—experiences intermittent rainfall and moderate flash floods.
The Egyptian Government Objectives for the Nabq Protected Area
The reserve aims to involve local Bedouin residents in its development while also preserving its natural resources.
Was the reserve closed by law?
The Ministry of Environment issued Decree No. 1091 of 2016, mandating the closure of the Nabq Protected Area in South Sinai.
The Reasons for Closure
The closure was ordered due to the potential risk of landmine displacement, which threatens the safety and security of both visitors and staff at the reserve.
The Effective Closure of the Reserve
The Ministry of Environment issued Decree No. 1091 of 2016 in coordination with the Governor of South Sinai to implement necessary precautionary measures regarding security and safety. It is worth noting that the Nabq Reserve has long suffered from severe neglect—occurring right under the noses of officials—despite the valuable natural assets it houses. This neglect led to the looting and theft of the reserve's contents and its museum. Meanwhile, a source within the South Sinai Governorate revealed rumors circulating about the sale of the reserve to a group of "major" investors, suggesting that the temporary closure decision is a precursor to this move.
In 2005, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the Tourism Development Authority (TDA)—acting as the bodies responsible for the management and jurisdiction of the protected area—signed a cooperation protocol to develop the site for tourism. Under this protocol, the TDA was authorized to develop a portion of the reserve as a coastal tourism outlet. The TDA paid EGP 1.8 million to the Ministry of Environment for the right to conduct tourism activities in the area, in accordance with the protocol's terms. Thus, approval has existed since 2005—granted by the EEAA and the Nature Conservation Sector—to utilize part of the reserve as a coastal access point, subject to the environmental conditions stipulated by the Nature Reserves Law.
The environmental conditions for the tourism development of the reserve include:
It conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); prohibiting the use of cement-based construction materials; utilizing lightweight timber sourced from the local area that harmonizes with the reserve's nature and natural materials; avoiding environmentally sensitive zones; involving the local community in the development process within the reserve; and adhering to numerous other conditions.
The Reality of Foreign Investments in the Protected Area
Al-Sharbatly contracted with the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and acquired 5 million square meters of land—located outside the Nabq Protected Area and lacking direct sea access—upon which he developed a massive tourism project featuring the largest lagoon in the Middle East. A stipulation of the contract with the TDA required allocating a portion of the protected area’s beachfront—over which the TDA held an agreement with the Environmental Affairs Agency—to serve as a coastal access point for the project, given that the project site itself lacked a sea view.
However, the area originally agreed upon with the Environmental Affairs Agency and the TDA—Wadi Umm Adawi—proved unsuitable for use as coastal access due to several factors identified by the committee in its report. Consequently, the TDA requested that the Cabinet authorize a substitute for the area designated at the mouth of Wadi Umm Adawi (an area of 300,000 m²) for use as a coastal beach. This request was made due to the hazards associated with the originally designated site—specifically its proximity to a flash-flood drainage path and the lack of safety and security measures—as previously outlined in the 2005 cooperation protocol between the Environmental Affairs Agency and the TDA. The investor lodged a complaint with the Cabinet and the Minister of Tourism. Consequently, the Cabinet mandated the formation of a committee comprising the Environmental Affairs Agency and the Tourism Development Authority to re-evaluate and designate a new area for use as a beach access point, in fulfillment of contractual obligations. The committee identified two areas of low environmental sensitivity; one of these—situated between the northern boundary of the Central Security Camp’s security zone and the southern boundary of the mangrove forest reserve (measuring 1,200m by 300m)—was selected for tourism development, subject to the terms of the 2005 protocol, as a substitute for the site originally designated at the mouth of Wadi Umm Adawi. This selection was subject to specific conditions, including...
The submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study
Since the Tourism Development Authority—the competent administrative body—has not submitted any EIA studies regarding the utilization of the designated area, the Environmental Affairs Agency has not granted any entity or company the right to conduct activities in either of the two specified zones.
So, Al-Sharbatly holds no rights over the nature reserve
This is precisely what my esteemed colleague wishes to verify; the Environmental Affairs Agency has entered into no contractual obligations with him. At the same time, he holds rights vis-à-vis the Tourism Development Authority, which is unable to hand over the plot of land agreed upon in his contract—granted as a right of use rather than ownership, given that natural reserve lands are not for sale. The law permits activities within natural reserves, provided they meet statutory environmental requirements and receive the approval of the Environmental Affairs Agency. How, then, can it be claimed that Al-Sharbatly—or any other party—has destroyed the reserve?
So, the Ministry of Environment has not yet handed over the land
It is still evaluating alternatives to the Wadi Umm Adawi area—which was originally designated under the protocol signed with the Tourism Development Authority—in light of court rulings ordering the evacuation of a nearby area previously allocated for shrimp farming.
It provided that the environmental conditions set by the Environmental Affairs Agency are met
—most notably those outlined in the protocol signed with the Tourism Development Authority and presented to the Cabinet, as well as the requirement to integrate local communities into the activities—the right to conduct the activity will be granted to the Tourism Development Authority in accordance with the law.
