Your first weeks in Eilat

Israel's southernmost city

Eilat sits at the northern tip of the Red Sea, next to Taba in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan. It had 56,004 residents in 2024. Tourism is the main industry, and the city has been a free trade zone since 1985, so shops do not charge VAT. Over 10,000 foreign workers live in the city.

City hall and paperwork

Arnona and school and gan registration go through the municipality. Book an aliyah advisor at the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration on gov.il (opens in a new tab). Eilat has no Nefesh B'Nefesh community guide, so ask the municipality and the ministry what help for olim is running.

Health, banks and shopping

See the health guide, bank branches and services and pharmacies.

The climate

Eilat has a hot desert climate: summers usually 26–40°C and dry, winters usually 11–23°C. Plan around the summer heat.