The Sinai Peninsula represents Egypt’s link between two continents, as the border between Africa and Asia is drawn along the Suez Canal. At its most southern point, Ras Mohammed, Sinai touches the Red Sea.
Most of the peninsula is desert with a few oasis scattered amongst the sandy mountainous terrain. The majority of the limited population lives along the coast. Inhabitants are Bedouin tribes: some settled others still living their nomadic life.

Nowadays people from all over Egypt are following the growing need for workers in the tourism field. Sinai has been fought over many of times. Battles have been connected to strategic, safety and nationalist issues. Since 1989 the peninsula, including the little town of Taba, belongs again to Egypt after years of Israeli control. Until now Multinational Force Observers are observing the peninsula.

More about the history

1869:

Opening of the Suez Canal.

1956:

Invasion by Israel. At the end of the war, all of Sinai’s territory is returned to Egyptian control.

1967 June 5-10:

With the Six-Day War, all of Sinai comes under Israeli control.

1973:

Disengagement agreements following the Yom Kippur War, leaves Egypt with parts on the East Bank of the Suez Canal, a zone stretching a couple of kilometers into Sinai.

1979:

Peace agreement with Israel, where Israeli starts to withdraw military forces as well as disengaging settlements.

1982:

Israel finishes the withdrawal process. Multinational Force Observers are installed to secure Israeli protection from Egyptian military activities.

1989 March 15:

The little town of Taba, next to the Israeli border, is handed over to Egypt. Before this happened Egypt and Israel had been through years of hard negotiations as Israel saw the peace agreement of 1979 as not including Taba.