El Arish is the capital and largest city (with 114,900 inhabitants as of 2002) of the Egyptian governorate of Shamal Sina (North Sinai). Arish means "palm huts" in Arabic. The city sprung up around a Bedouin settlement in the vicinity of the ancient Ptolemaic Dynasty. El Arish has become a centre for commerce and traffic and an increasingly popular tourist destination. Average Temperatures and Precipitation   Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Mean 13°C 13°C 15°C 18°C 21°C 24°C 26°C 26°C 24°C 22°C 18°C 14°C Avg. Percip. 27.9 mm 15.2 mm 12.7 mm 10.2 mm 0.0 mm 0.0 mm 0.0 mm 0.0 mm 0.0 mm 5.1 mm 10.2 mm 22.9 mm