Egypt’s New Nile Dahabiya Was Built by a Woman With Impeccable Taste

You can tell a lot about someone by the boat they build. In the case of Per Ba Merkaba, Egypt’s newest luxury Nile dahabiya, the clues are celestial ceilings, an entire room designed around sound, two sun decks and a jacuzzi sitting practically at the Nile’s edge. Naturally, it was dreamed up by a woman with an enviable eye for detail.

And this isn’t a case of taking an old dahabiya, giving it a polish and calling it luxury. Per Ba Merkaba was built from scratch for 24 guests, which means someone got to start with a blank canvas and decide exactly what deserved a place on the Nile. The result is a boat where the good bits keep turning up when you’re not looking for them: an ankh worked into a handle, lotus motifs carved into the wood, and a ceiling above your bed painted with constellations inspired by Nut, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky.

Then there’s Ptah’s Chamber, a circular room designed around sound. Its shape is intended to help carry voices and instruments, making it the boat’s setting for everything from sound baths and meditation to breathwork and group sessions. It can accommodate all 24 guests, which means the space can shift from an intimate circle to a full gathering without having to borrow half the dining room.

Up on deck, the Nile spreads out in every direction with the upper level reserved for stretching out with a good book, soaking in the jacuzzi or watching the river pass below, while the lower one sits close enough to the water that you can step straight in for a swim. Put simply, someone with very good instincts has thought rather carefully about how you might want to spend your time on the Nile, then added a little celestial drama for good measure.