Northeastern arm of the Red Sea , between Saudi Arabia and the Sinai Peninsula .
It varies in width from 12 to 17 miles (19 to 27 km) and is 100 miles (160 km) long. Its head touches Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Its only sheltered harbour is Dhahab (Dahab), Egypt; Jordan and Israel created the ports of Al-ʽAqabah and Elat, respectively, as outlets to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean .