The heat flux and evaporation rate are estimated using daily temperature, humidity, and wind measurements at the two meteorological stations near the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Nueba (Neviot) and Dahab (Di-Zahav). Our estimates give an annual evaporation rate of 280 W m−2, which is equivalent to 1 cm day−1 of evaporation. The sea surface is cooled at an average rate of 110 W m−2 and the buoyancy flux is 8×10−8 m−2 s−3. In the winter the evaporation and the cooling rate are greatly enhanced by the inflow of warm water from the Red Sea. The surface of the Gulf is thus kept at 5°C above its equilibrium value. Abstract The heat flux and evaporation rate are estimated using daily temperature, humidity, and wind measurements at the two meteorological stations near the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Nueba (Neviot) and Dahab (Di-Zahav). Our estimates give an annual evaporation rate of 280 W m−2, which is equivalent to 1 cm day−1 of evaporation. The sea surface is cooled at an average rate of 110 W m−2 and the buoyancy flux is 8×10−8 m−2 s−3. In the winter the evaporation and the cooling rate are greatly enhanced by the inflow of warm water from the Red Sea. The surface of the Gulf is thus kept at 5°C above its equilibrium value.