Egypt (pronounced /?i?d??pt/ (listen); Arabic: ???‎ Mi?r, pronounced [mis??] (listen); Egyptian Arabic: ??? Ma?r [?m?s??]; Coptic: ????, k?mi; Egyptian: Kemet), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Thereby, Egypt is a transcontinental country, and is considered to be a major power in North Africa, Mediterranean Region, African continent, Nile Basin, Islamic World and the Red Sea. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north east, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 77.4 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq m), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
 

Sharm el Sheikh (Arabic: ??? ?????‎, Sharm al-Shaykh), is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai with a population of approximately 35,000 (2008).

Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's South Sinai Governorate which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai. Sharm el-Sheikh is known as The City of Peace referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there. 

Sharm El-Sheikh city together with Naama Bay, Hay el Nour, Hadaba, Rowaysat, Montazah and Shark's Bay form a metropolitan area.

The land plan shows that the total area of Sharm El-Sheikh is expected to be about 42 km², in the year 2017. This area is designed to include:

• Tourism resorts 8.4%
• Tourism Facilities 40.9%
• Green & Open areas 12.3%
• Social Services 9.9%
• Roads 12.2%
• Urban Housing 13.7%
• Bedouin Housing 1.6%
• Hand crafts & small industries 1.0%

Before 1967, Sharm el-Sheikh was little more than an occasional base of operations for local fishermen; the nearest permanent settlement was in Nabk, north of Ras el-Nasrani ("The Tiran Straits"). The Egypt built the town of Ofra overlooking Sharm el-Maya Bay, and the Nesima area, and opened the first tourist-oriented establishments in the area six kilometers north at Naama Bay. These included a marina hotel on the southern side of the bay, a nature field school on the northern side, diving clubs, a now well-known promenade, and the Naama Bay Hotel.

After the Sinai was restored to Egypt in 1982, the Egyptian government embarked on an initiative to encourage continued development of the city. Foreign investors - some of whom had discovered the potential of the locality during the Israeli occupation - contributed to a spate of building projects. Environmental zoning laws currently limit the height of buildings in Sharm el-Sheikh so as to avoid obscuring the natural beauty of the surroundings.

The most Average temperatures during the winter months (November to March) range from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius (59-95°F) and during the summer months (April to October) from 20 to 45 degrees Celsius (68-113°F). The temperature of the Red Sea in this region ranges from 21 to 28 degrees Celsius (70-84°F) over the course of the year. 
 

Sharm el Sheikh was formerly a port, but commercial shipping has been greatly reduced as the result of strict environmental laws introduced in the 1990s. Until 1982, there was only a military port in Sharm el Sheikh, on the northern part of Marsa Bareka. The civilian port development started in the mid 1980s when the Sharem-al-Maya bay became the city's main yacht and service port.

Sharm el Sheikh's major industry is foreign and domestic tourism, owing to its dramatic landscape, year-round dry and temperate climate and long stretches of natural beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various watersports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkeling which some consider to be among the best in the world. Coral reefs, under water and marine life offer a spectacular and dazzling time for divers. There is great scope for scientific tourism with diversity in marine life species; 250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish.

These natural resources, together with its proximity to European tourism markets, have stimulated the rapid growth of tourism that the region is currently experiencing. The total number of resorts increased from three in 1982 to ninety one in 2000. Guest nights also increased in that period of time from sixteen thousand to 5.1 million. Companies which have been attracted to invest in this city include Hyatt Regency, Accor, Marriott, Le Méridien, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, with categories of three to five stars. In 2007 the area saw the opening of its first aqua park hotel resort. The four star Aqua Blu Sharm Resort was built on the Ras Om El Seid, with an area of 133905 m². Famous chains like Starbucks, Hard Rock Cafe, McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken can be found in Sharm el Sheikh.

Sharm is also the home of a state of the art congress center, located along peace road, where many international political and economic meetings have been held, including peace conferences, ministerial meetings, world bank meetings, Arab League. The Maritim Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre can host events and congresses for up to 4,700 participants.

The nightlife of Sharm El-Sheikh is modern and developed. In 2005, Little Buddha, a sushi bar, nightclub, and bar, took the title of having the longest continuous bar in the Middle East. Other popular bars include the Camel Bar, The Tavern, Pirate's Bar, Movenpick Beach, and The Mexican. Dance club franchise Pacha has one of its three African clubs in Sharm (the other two are in Morocco and Nigeria). These nightclubs and restaurants contribute greatly to the lifestyle led by Sharm el-Sheikh's visitors each year.

 
The colorful handicraft stands of the local Bedouin culture are a popular attraction. Ras Mohammed, at the southern-most tip of the peninsula, has been designated a national park, serving to protect the area's wildlife as well as its natural landscape, shoreline and coral reef. A number of international hotels and noted restaurants are clustered around the centre of Sharm, known as Naama Bay, with golf courses and other leisure facilities further up the coast.

Outings to places such as Cairo and the Great Pyramids require a crossing of a continental border (crossing from Asia to Africa) which requires a travel visa that must be acquired from Sharm el Sheik airport.

Sharm's marina has been redeveloped for private yachts and sailboats, with a passenger terminal for cruise ships and scheduled ferry service to Hurghada and Aqaba.

Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport in addition to scheduled flights to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Alexandria and 5 weekly flights to London (Gatwick), Sharm's airport is served by frequent charter flights to Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and the United Kingdom, among other destinations.

British Airways now operates direct scheduled services from London Gatwick to Sharm el Sheikh on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays. Thomson Airways operates chartered services seven days a week from UK airports.

Sharm has frequent good quality coach services to Cairo leaving from the Delta Sharm bus station. There are three companies on the route charging between 70 and 100 LE in 2008 for the 6 hour journey

Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for Scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, kite surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls, pounding current and coral gardens.

The Sharm el-Sheikh Hyperbaric Medical Center was founded in 1993 with a grant from USAID by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, represented by Dr Adel Taher to assist with diving related illnesses and complete the area's reputation as a full-service dive destination

- Sharm el Maya 

- Sharm el Maya  the most popular most east bay, also is well-known for the sandy beaches, hotels and east market «Old Market». Around Sharm el Maya there is a known Old city – local residents name simply "Sharm". In local port numerous yachts and the private boats ready at any moment to weigh anchor and go to swimming to opening of new sea depths are moored

- Old city (Sharm)

Market Old Market — the old market east market, one of the oldest city districts. An arrangement - around Sharm El Maya bay. The old city has a direct outlet to the sea, set private and public beaches, however, in area of the Old city also are located some hotels such as Iberotel Palace, Seti Sharm Hotel etc.

In this area as well as everywhere on Sharm el Sheikh — is a lot of restaurants (the fish restaurant most popular here «Red Sea Fish Restaurant»), supermarkets (for example, Metro Supermarket), entertaining complexes, cafe (known cafe "Terrazzina". The life in the Old city does not stop neither in the afternoon, nor at night.

Near to the Old city there is a big Botanical garden, the central street Peace Road connecting among themselves all coast of the Charm-ale-sheikh originates from it. As, here are located — park, auto station, secret police office.

Hadaba Um Sid - the picturesque, solar area, is located in Sharm el Sheikh on an eminence. The wide range of hotels, restaurants, diving of the centers and shops, supermarkets, school offers the visitors. Now represents residing area, as a rule, local civilians. A close outlet to the sea (high breakage, abrupt ladders). Beach in Hadaba — mainly coral, with high steep coast, an abrupt input in the sea and the big depths. Are extremely interesting to divers at the expense of beauty of the underwater world and a considerable quantity of sea inhabitants.

From the main sights — the new business and trading area Or Merkato (Il Mercato) - here go to one line both offices, and restaurants, cafe, shops, motor shows, the parking, popular shop Virgin Group, an entertaining complex «1001 night», a delphinarium, a new Aqua park. The given area costs on crossing of streets City Consul street and El Fanar street, further nearby goes Bank Street

Hay El Nour - the residential area consisting of separate country houses, opposite Delta the Charm located through road Peace Road. The area consists from separate private country houses, also, representations and offices of travel agencies, legal firms, motor shows (the largest motor show Hyundai), shops, supermarkets, school, long-distance auto station (for a trip for example to Cairo etc.), medical centre, and also the greatest Mosque, and Orthodox church.

Face sheet the given area leaves on Peace Road, other party - on mountains.

Nabq– new area of a coral height opposite to island the Tiran. Differs fast rates of building and development of an infrastructure, changes are visible here with open years. Feature of this area is the long strip of shoal, the input in the sea is carried out usually from the long pontoons reaching sometimes 400 m. On area of Nabq landed more than 130 kinds of trees and plants. In this area as — it is a lot of restaurants, disco (opening soon known Hard Rock Café), supermarkets (for example, Metro Supermarket), entertaining complexes, cafe, including a McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King etc. 
 

Naama Bay — a kernel of the modern city, full of infrastructures, hotels, shops, bars, restaurants, a casino, the centers on diving, travel agencies, night clubs (the most known Pacha, Hard Rock Café, etc.). The given area for local residents is called "Marina". Here the life boils practically all day and night. Beaches of Naama bay — almost all with a sandy bottom and in literal sense "work of art" of resort architects.

Delta Sharm - residential area, on island between Naama Bay (in 3-4 km.) and a rock Kennedy, on a height in the Charm-ale-sheikh towards the Old city. Delta Sharm is an oasis of silence and the calmness, buried in verdure gardens. The territory represents "a city in a city" - with the separate territory, round-the-clock protection, falls, fountains, modern pools, shops, hairdresser's, spa-salons, and an other infrastructure. A face sheet the Delta-charm leaves on the basic line - Peace Road, from an opposite side - on City Consul Street.

El Montazah – new elite residential area Sharm el Sheikh, which is one of the most desired and prestigious vacation spots on Red Sea. Montaza has the three-kilometre private beach located before the most beautiful coral reeves from which grasps spirit. Excellent a panoramic kind of Red sea, reserve «Island the Tyran» and Sinai mountains.

Sunny Lakes - the residential area located in near to Naamy Bay towards Nabq and the airport. The «city in a city», of 114 000 m, the built up part occupies with a total area only 20 %. Other part of 80 % - green territory, with round-the-clock protection, modern pools, shops, salons and another infrastructure. Supermarkets, a drugstore, a motor show, nearby a McDonalds are there and then located by cafe. Face sheet of Sunny Lakes leaves on Peace Road, from an opposite side — on mountains. No direct outlet to the sea has. 

Sharm El Sheikh  Real Estate Co. Egypt