Pharaoh's Island

[2][1] The island and its harbour stood at the junction of sea and land routes, the former connecting to Southern Arabia and East Africa, and the latter leading north to Syria and across the Sinai to Egypt.

[5][6] During a dig in one of its rooms, two sherds of Negev pottery were found in the petrified debris, but not at floor level,[5] which excludes them as a safe indicator of the wall's age.

[7] Although the Crusaders reached the head of the Gulf of Aqaba in 1116,[8] they did not establish a permanent presence at Ayla (also spelled Ailah or Wayla; see 'Aqaba) or the nearby island at that time.

[12][13] In November 1181, Raynald of Châtillon raided the Arab-held Ayla and attempted to set up a naval blockade against the Muslim troops there during the winter of 1182 to 1183.

[8] In 1217, the pilgrim Thietmar passed the island and reported that a castle there was inhabited by Muslims and Christian captives, namely French, English, and Latins–the latter are hard to identify beyond them being Catholics–who all worked as "fishermen of the sultan", without engaging in any farming or military activities.

[8][3] Israeli archaeologists discovered some 1,500 textile fragments, some originating in India, Iran and Iraq, as well as hundreds of items of basketry and cordage, carbon-dated to a period between the late 12th and the early 14th century.

Because of its location near Jordan and Israel, the island and its coral reefs have become a popular sightseeing attraction among tourists based in Taba, Eilat, and Aqaba.