{"id":49,"date":"2024-03-03T09:04:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T09:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/?p=49"},"modified":"2026-08-01T03:59:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T03:59:32","slug":"north-sinai-governorate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/north-sinai-governorate\/","title":{"rendered":"North Sinai Governorate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>North Sinai Governorate (Arabic: \u0634\u0645\u0627\u0644 \u0633\u064a\u0646\u0627\u0621) covers the northern half of the Sinai Peninsula, between the Mediterranean coast and the central Sinai plateau. Its capital is El Arish, the largest city on the peninsula. CAPMAS estimated the population at 504,201 in January 2023, across 27,564 km\u00b2, a density of 18 people per km\u00b2.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Capital<\/th>\n<td>El Arish (\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u064a\u0634)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Population (Jan 2023 est.)<\/th>\n<td>504,201<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Population (2017 census)<\/th>\n<td>450,328<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Area<\/th>\n<td>27,564 km\u00b2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Density<\/th>\n<td>18 per km\u00b2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Administrative divisions<\/th>\n<td>11 kisms (municipal divisions)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">Telephone code<\/th>\n<td>068<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Towns and Villages in North Sinai Governorate<\/h2>\n<p>Settlement follows the coast road and the wells. Four fifths of the population lives on the strip between Bir El Abd and Rafah, where sand dunes give way to date palms and olive groves. South of the coast the land is open plateau, and villages sit at wadis and water points. Populations below are CAPMAS January 2023 estimates for each kism. Bedouin quarters carry the name of the tribal section that settled them, which is why so many begin with Hayy.<\/p>\n<h3>El Arish (208,119 across four kisms)<\/h3>\n<p>The capital and the peninsula&#8217;s main market, port and university town.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>El Arish (Al \u2018Ar\u012bsh)<\/li>\n<li>Ar R\u012bsah<\/li>\n<li>As Sal\u0101yimah<\/li>\n<li>A\u015f \u015eaf\u0101<\/li>\n<li>Ar Rumayl\u012b<\/li>\n<li>Hayy az Zuh\u016br<\/li>\n<li>Hayy al Arba\u2018\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>Hayy al \u2018Ishr\u012bn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Rafah (82,793)<\/h3>\n<p>The border kism on the Gaza frontier, 45 km east of El Arish.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rafah (Rafa\u1e29)<\/li>\n<li>Al Wif\u0101q<\/li>\n<li>Al Kharbah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sheikh Zuweid (65,964)<\/h3>\n<p>An olive and date district between El Arish and Rafah.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sheikh Zuweid (Ash Shaykh Zuwayd)<\/li>\n<li>Ash Shall\u0101q<\/li>\n<li>Al Mahd\u012byah<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u016b \u0162aw\u012blah<\/li>\n<li>Al Maq\u1e11abah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Bir El Abd (60,827)<\/h3>\n<p>The western coastal kism, on the road in from the Suez Canal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bir El Abd (Bi&#8217;r al \u2018Abd)<\/li>\n<li>Al Kharr\u016bbah<\/li>\n<li>Qatia (\u1e28aw\u1e11 Q\u0101\u0163\u012byah)<\/li>\n<li>Mad\u012bnat al Jumayzah<\/li>\n<li>Al Jah\u0101m\u0101t<\/li>\n<li>Al Muq\u0101\u0163a\u2018ah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Rumana (45,292)<\/h3>\n<p>A fully rural kism of salt flats and fishing hamlets behind Lake Bardawil.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rumana (Rum\u0101nah)<\/li>\n<li>Baluza<\/li>\n<li>Gilbana<\/li>\n<li>B\u016bgh\u0101z Raqm\u0101n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>El Hassana (21,213)<\/h3>\n<p>Central Sinai, on the plateau road south of El Arish.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>El Hassana (Al \u1e28asanah)<\/li>\n<li>Jawz Ab\u016b Ra\u2018d<\/li>\n<li>Al \u1e28ath\u0101nah<\/li>\n<li>Wadi al Jameel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>El Qasima (13,331)<\/h3>\n<p>The eastern plateau kism, around the Quseima oasis and the Israeli border.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>El Qasima (Al Qu\u015faymah)<\/li>\n<li>Umm Qatef (Um Qataf)<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat as S\u0101d\u0101t<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat ar Raw\u1e11ah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Nakhl (6,662)<\/h3>\n<p>The old pilgrim halt in the middle of the peninsula, on the road from Suez to Aqaba.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nakhl (Qal\u2018at an Nakhl)<\/li>\n<li>Nakhl Abu Saqal<\/li>\n<li>Al Kuntillah<\/li>\n<li>At Tamad<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other mapped villages and Bedouin quarters<\/h3>\n<p>These places appear in the national gazetteer without a kism assignment. Most are small quarters, wells or seasonal camps.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Abu Forag<\/li>\n<li>Abu Halo<\/li>\n<li>Abu Saht<\/li>\n<li>Abu Zamat<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u012b \u015euql<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u016b Jurayy\u0101n<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u016b Tar\u0101f\u012b<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u016b al F\u012btah<\/li>\n<li>Ab\u016b \u2018Uwayq\u012byah<\/li>\n<li>Agalin<\/li>\n<li>Al Khush\u016bm<\/li>\n<li>Al Ma\u0163allah<\/li>\n<li>Al Mulayz<\/li>\n<li>Al Wasab\u012byah<\/li>\n<li>At T\u016bmah<\/li>\n<li>As Sak\u0101sikah<\/li>\n<li>Az\u0327 Z\u0327uhayr<\/li>\n<li>A\u0163 \u0162aw\u012bl<\/li>\n<li>A\u0163 \u0162\u0101sah<\/li>\n<li>Baghdad<\/li>\n<li>El Avoa<\/li>\n<li>El Fitat<\/li>\n<li>El Qawadis<\/li>\n<li>El-Qa\u1e6d\u00e2f\u00eeya<\/li>\n<li>El-Qushl\u00e2q\u00e2t<\/li>\n<li>Garada<\/li>\n<li>Hayshah a\u1e11 \u1e10ayz\u00e1<\/li>\n<li>Houseinat<\/li>\n<li>Kowthaf<\/li>\n<li>Manaka<\/li>\n<li>Maz\u0101r<\/li>\n<li>Ma\u015f\u0101fiq al \u2018Izz<\/li>\n<li>Melafi<\/li>\n<li>Min\u0163aqat al Ghar\u0101b\u0101t<\/li>\n<li>Min\u0163aqat az Za\u2018\u0101bi\u0163ah<\/li>\n<li>Mi\u015ffaq<\/li>\n<li>Mowasi<\/li>\n<li>Na\u1e96al Diqla<\/li>\n<li>Obeidot<\/li>\n<li>Qabr \u2018Umayr<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat Ab\u016b Shann\u0101r al Khar\u0101f\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat Ab\u016b Zar\u2018\u012b<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat Ibl\u0101l at Tar\u0101b\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat Salm\u0101nah<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat al Ma\u2018n\u012byah<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat al \u1e28urr\u012byah<\/li>\n<li>Qaryat at Tul\u016bl<\/li>\n<li>Sadat<\/li>\n<li>Sakan Abu Rag\u012ba<\/li>\n<li>Salah a Deen<\/li>\n<li>Wahahee<\/li>\n<li>W\u0101d\u012b al Akisa<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Ab\u016b Khas\u0101yir<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Ab\u016b Khaww\u0101r<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Ab\u016b \u1e28\u0101zim<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Ajuhaynah Ab\u016b Khirf\u0101n<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy A\u1e29ubbaynah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Furay\u1e29 Ab\u016b Nawfal<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy Khal\u012bl Ab\u016b But\u016bm<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy al Mu\u015f\u0101ba\u1e29ah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy al Qaw\u0101simah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy al Q\u0101\u1e11\u012b al Khar\u0101f\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy al \u2018Aq\u0101yilah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy ar Rajj\u0101w\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy as Sak\u0101dirah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy as Sarr\u0101\u1e29\u012bn<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy ash Shaykh Z\u0101yid al Hashshah<\/li>\n<li>\u1e28ayy a\u0163 \u0162\u0101winah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Geography<\/h2>\n<p>The governorate runs from the Mediterranean south across dunes, then the El Tih plateau. Lake Bardawil, a shallow salt lagoon 90 km long, separates the coast road from the sea between Rumana and Bir El Abd. Wadi El Arish drains most of central Sinai north to the sea at the capital. It borders <a href=\"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/south-sinai-governorate\/\">South Sinai<\/a> to the south, and <a href=\"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/port-said-governorate\/\">Port Said<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/ismailia-governorate\/\">Ismailia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/egypt\/suez-governorate\/\">Suez<\/a> across the canal to the west. Gaza and Israel lie to the east.<\/p>\n<h2>Demographics<\/h2>\n<p>The 2017 census counted 450,328 people; the January 2023 estimate is 504,201. El Arish alone holds about 41 percent of the total. The coastal kisms from Bir El Abd to Rafah hold roughly 90 percent between them. Most residents belong to Sinai Bedouin tribes, chiefly the Sawarka, Rumaylat, Tarabin, Bayyadiyin and Masaeed, alongside families of Palestinian and Nile Valley origin in El Arish. Population growth has been uneven since 2013 because of displacement from the eastern kisms.<\/p>\n<h2>Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n<p>Farming works where the water table is shallow. Olives, dates, watermelon, barley and peaches come off the coastal strip, and El Arish olive oil sells across Egypt. Fishing runs from El Arish port and the Bardawil lagoon, which yields sea bass, bream and mullet. Bedouin herders keep sheep, goats and camels on the plateau. Marble and gypsum are quarried in the interior. Reconstruction after the 2013 to 2022 insurgency drives much of the current work, along with the new Bir El Abd and El Arish development schemes and the fish farms at Bardawil.<\/p>\n<h2>History<\/h2>\n<p>The northern coast road is the Way of Horus, the military route that linked Egypt to Canaan under the New Kingdom. Qatia was a caravan halt on that road and the site of a 1916 battle in the First World War. El Arish took its present shape around an Ottoman fort. Israel occupied the peninsula in 1967 and returned North Sinai to Egypt in stages after the 1979 peace treaty, with the final handover in April 1982. An insurgency in the eastern kisms from 2013 displaced tens of thousands of residents before large-scale operations ended in 2022.<\/p>\n<h2>Getting There<\/h2>\n<p>El Arish is about 350 km from Cairo, roughly five hours by road through Ismailia and the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel or the Martyr Ahmed Hamdi crossings. Buses run daily from Cairo&#8217;s Turgoman terminal. El Arish International Airport handles limited domestic flights. There is no passenger rail service into the governorate. The coastal highway continues east to Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, and the Nakhl road crosses the plateau south towards Taba and Nuweiba.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the capital of North Sinai Governorate?<\/h3>\n<p>El Arish, on the Mediterranean coast. Its four kisms held 208,119 people in January 2023.<\/p>\n<h3>How many villages are in North Sinai?<\/h3>\n<p>The governorate has 11 kisms and no markaz system, unlike the Nile Valley. Around 100 named settlements are mapped, most of them small Bedouin quarters and wells rather than nucleated villages.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the population of North Sinai Governorate?<\/h3>\n<p>504,201 as of the CAPMAS estimate for January 2023. The 2017 census counted 450,328.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the telephone code for El Arish?<\/h3>\n<p>068, used across North Sinai. Dial 0068 within Egypt or +20 68 from abroad.<\/p>\n<h3>How far is El Arish from Cairo?<\/h3>\n<p>About 350 km by road, roughly five hours via Ismailia and the Suez Canal crossings.<\/p>\n<h3>Is North Sinai the same as the Sinai Peninsula?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The peninsula is split between North Sinai and South Sinai governorates. North Sinai holds the Mediterranean coast and the central plateau; South Sinai holds the mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba resorts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Sinai Governorate (Arabic: \u0634\u0645\u0627\u0644 \u0633\u064a\u0646\u0627\u0621) covers the northern half of the Sinai Peninsula, between the Mediterranean coast and the central Sinai plateau. Its capital is El Arish, the largest city on the peninsula. CAPMAS estimated the population at 504,201 in January 2023, across 27,564 km\u00b2, a density of 18 people per km\u00b2. Capital El [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"North Sinai Governorate: Towns, Villages & Population","_seopress_titles_desc":"North Sinai Governorate, Egypt: capital El Arish, 504,201 people (Jan 2023), 11 kisms. 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