Founded only in the early 20th century, the town has been seen since the 1980s an enormous boom in tourist development by American, European, Arab and Egyptian companies to make it the Red sea coast’s leading tourist resort. Beaches front 20 km (12 miles) of holiday villages and first- rate hotels, which provide excellent water sports facilities for wind- surfing, sailing, deep- sea fishing, snorkeling and diving. Safaris into the desert hinterland are organized by jeep or camel. The Aquarium at Ad-Dahar gives you a first glimpse of the tropical fish to be seen before going out to join them in the sea.