St Catherine International Airport

St Catherine International Airport lies about 20 km north-east of the town of St Catherine in the high mountains of South Sinai. It has a single 2,115-metre runway and was built to bring visitors to St Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai. In practice it has seen very little use for more than a decade, and it currently has no scheduled passenger flights.

Airlines and routes

No airline runs regular flights to St Catherine at the moment. The government is upgrading the airport as part of the wider “Great Transfiguration” development of St Catherine, with plans reported for a new terminal and a longer runway capable of handling international flights. The Egyptian Airports Company inspected the works in February 2025, but no opening date or airline has been confirmed.

Getting there instead

Most visitors fly to Sharm El Sheikh and continue by road to St Catherine, a drive of around three hours through mountain scenery, usually with a hotel transfer or an organised tour. Others come from Dahab or Nuweiba. Security checkpoints are normal on Sinai roads, so carry your passport.

Visiting tips

If you plan to climb Mount Sinai for sunrise, base yourself in St Catherine rather than making a long round trip from the coast.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, maspero.eg, dostor.org, gov.uk.