Dahabieh ; Past & Present

Dahabieh is a passenger boat used on the river Nile in Egypt. The term is normally used to describe a shallow-bottomed, barge-like vessel with two or more sails. The vessels have been around in one form or another for thousands of years, with similar craft being depicted on the walls of the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs. Indeed, the name derives from the Arabic word for “gold“, owing to similar, gilded state barges used by the Muslim rulers of Egypt in the Middle Ages.

Dahabieh on the Nile, 1891

Until the 1870s the dahabieh was the standard for tourists to travel up and down the river Nile. According to Donald Reid, in 1858. By 1900, as trains had started to compete with the steam boat, dahabiyas were reserved only for the most wealthy, leisured travelers.

This is also the time that saw great change in how dahabiyas were used and viewed.

Modern Era

Modern Nile dahabieh under tow by a tugboat, 2020

Modern dahabiyas still lack a motor-driven propeller. They are towed by diesel-powered tugboats, and have an onboard diesel-powered generator to provide electricity.