Sahl Hasheesh
Sahl Hasheesh (Arabic: سهل حشيش Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈsæhle ħæˈʃiːʃ], "Plain of Grass") is a tourist resort destination located on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, approximately 18 km south of Hurghada International Airport.[1] The resort is nestled in the spectacular surrounds of the Sahl Hasheesh Bay, with a 12.5 km coastline, 9 km of which is swimmable, providing one of the longest stretches of swimmable beach on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The land elevation rises gently, providing the area with expansive views of the Bay.
The resort contains a mix of beachfront hotels, holiday apartments, villas and retail/commercial development. The largest operating developments include Dessole Pyramisa, Azzura, Tropitel, Premier Le Reve and Baron Palace. There are two 18-hole golf courses under construction, as well as several hotel, residential and commercial developments.
The Sahl Hasheesh Bay is home to a number offshore islands and coral reefs with excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities. The nearby Abu Hasheesh Island is a local protectorate containing a thriving community of marine life.
Other attractions at Sahl Hasheesh include the central ‘Old Town’ for shopping and dining, horse riding, walking along the beach boardwalk, the Arrivals Piazza, the ‘Sunken City’ (an artificial reef for diving and snorkeling), and the Pharaonic Entry Gate.[2]
Development and Master Plan
The exclusive development rights to Sahl Hasheesh are held by Egyptian Resorts Company (ERC), who purchased the land in 1995. The master plan for the site is divided into three phases. Phases 1 and 2 comprise 12 million square metres of land, which is currently under development. Phase 3 comprises 28.5 million square metres and is subject to future development.
As the Master Developer for Sahl Hasheesh, ERC are the sole provider of all infrastructure networks, including water, sewerage, electricity, telecommunications, roads and community infrastructure. ERC also operates community management services.
While touristic development is intended to remain the predominant economic driver of Sahl Hasheesh, the objective is to create a fully integrated mixed-use resort city, with the aim of achieving long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
Sahl Hasheesh includes the sub-projects of ‘Jamaran’ and the ‘Sawari Marina’. Jamaran comprises 180 villas along the northern part of the site’s coast. The Sawari Marina is located on the south part of the site’s coast and is to be developed in partnership between ERC and Orascom Development Holding.
Climate
The climate of Sahl Hasheesh is characterised by coastal aridity, with hot and dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall amounts are low and infrequent.
| Climate data for Hurghada | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) |
22.2 (72) |
26.3 (79.3) |
27.6 (81.7) |
31.3 (88.3) |
33.4 (92.1) |
33.8 (92.8) |
34.2 (93.6) |
31.7 (89.1) |
29.8 (85.6) |
26.4 (79.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
28.41 (83.13) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) |
16.1 (61) |
20.4 (68.7) |
21.7 (71.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.7 (83.7) |
29.2 (84.6) |
26.9 (80.4) |
24.6 (76.3) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.2 (63) |
22.88 (73.19) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
10.0 (50) |
14.5 (58.1) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.8 (67.6) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
24.2 (75.6) |
22.2 (72) |
19.5 (67.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
17.39 (63.32) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.04) |
1 (0.04) |
1 (0.04) |
3 (0.12) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org[3] | |||||||||||||
References
Coordinates: 27°02′57″N 33°53′21″E / 27.04917°N 33.88917°E