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📍 Sharm el Sheikh: a Red Sea resort city at the southern tip of Sinai; Sharm el Sheikh Airport (SSH) is about 10–15 km from Naama Bay.
Do You Need a Car in Sharm el Sheikh?
Inside the resort area, taxis and hotel shuttles are easy. A car pays off if you want to visit Dahab, the Ras Mohammed area or several beaches without tours.
Our advice: stay on paved, well-travelled roads and ask the agency which routes are allowed. Do not drive in the desert: insurance is not valid there.
Drive Times from Sharm el Sheikh
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Sharm el Sheikh Airport (SSH) | ~10–15 km | 15–25 min |
| Nabq | ~25–30 km | 25–35 min |
| Ras Mohammed area | ~25–40 km | about 30–50 min |
| Dahab | ~90–100 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| St Catherine | ~200 km | about 2.5–3 hours; check restrictions |
Traffic, Parking and Checkpoints
Resort roads are good, but speed bumps are frequent and some are unmarked. Hotels and malls have car parks.
- Expect police checkpoints outside the resort area and keep your papers to hand
- Ask the agency which Sinai roads you may use
- Fines from police and cameras are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh, or collected at Sharm el Sheikh Airport (SSH). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- International Driving Permit (IDP) together with your national driving licence — check with the agency exactly what it will accept before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Fines, tolls and parking are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Sharm el Sheikh: Roads and Habits
Expect minibuses stopping without warning and roundabouts used assertively. After dark, the road to Dahab has unlit vehicles and animals, so avoid night driving.
- Traffic drives on the right, and rental cars are left-hand drive
- There are many police checkpoints on intercity and desert roads; slow down, keep your licence, IDP, passport and rental papers to hand and follow the officers' instructions
- Some regions and roads can be restricted for tourists; ask the agency and check current government travel advice before you plan a route
- Night driving is risky: vehicles without lights, animals, pedestrians and unmarked speed bumps are common
- Speed limits are signed and cameras and radar checks are used on main roads; fines are sent to the agency
- Strict drink-driving rules — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving; seatbelts are compulsory
- Do not take the car off the paved road or into the desert or onto sand: insurance is not valid there
- Ask the agency before crossing between regions or leaving the country; one-way and cross-region rentals need confirmation