Historic · North Taba, Gulf of Aqaba، South Sinai
Saladin Citadel on Pharaoh’s Island (Taba)
A majestic 12th-century Crusader-era citadel built by Sultan Saladin in 1170 AD on a rocky coral islet commanding views of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Palestine.
The story
Perched on a rocky island 250 meters off the Taba shore. Sultan Saladin constructed this fortress in 1170 AD to protect the Egyptian pilgrimage route and defend the Gulf of Aqaba against Crusader fleets. The citadel features fortified defensive curtain walls, watchtowers, military barracks, a garrison mosque, and freshwater cisterns, inscribed on UNESCO’s Tentative List.
Visiting tips
Short 10-minute boat transfers take visitors across to the island. The surrounding shallow reef offers superb snorkeling alongside medieval ramparts.