Never liked "Island hold". If I'm given that I feel I could be backed into corner should things go wrong. e.g., single R/W, someone prangs on that RW. Where you gonna go?
Khartoum, before Port Sudan was shifted was the same. Island hold in the winter the bean counters deemed adequate. BS.
Gan Island would be better than nothing, as it used to be an RAF base until the mid to late '70's. The officers mess is now the airport hotel. I little bit of interesting but useless information.