Ras Mohammed: The crown of the Red Sea

CAIRO - 24 April 2026: Where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba, the desert drops into a kaleidoscopic world of 450-million-year-old coral reefs. Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt’s first protected area established in 1983, remains one of the most productive natural systems on the planet, rivaling tropical rainforests in biological wealth.

The protectorate is famous for its vertical coral walls and the rare mangrove channel that separates the mainland from El-Baira Island.

Beneath the surface, divers navigate underwater caves formed by ancient seismic shifts, sharing the water with endangered sea turtles and vibrant schools of reef fish. On land, the park serves as a vital sanctuary for the Nubian ibex and migratory herons.

Recent upgrades at the park have focused on sustainability, including the renovation of the Marsa Khashabi building complex and the enhancement of research laboratories.

Whether it is exploring the "Magic Lake" or snorkeling alongside the ancient reef, Ras Mohammed offers a profound look at an ecosystem that has survived for millennia but now relies on conscious tourism for its future.