Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Construct a Joint Bridge Over the Red Sea

King Salman of Saudi Arabia announced on Friday, April 30, in Cairo that Saudi Arabia and Egypt have agreed to construct a land bridge between the two countries. This announcement was made during a joint press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Union Palace, following the signing of 17 joint memorandums of understanding between Riyadh and Cairo. King Salman arrived in Cairo on Thursday with a high-ranking Saudi delegation for a five-day visit. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed that the bridge be named 'King Salman bin Abdulaziz.' The purpose of the bridge, which has been proposed several times in the past, is to create a land route for transportation between the two countries. The bridge, which is to be built in the northern part of the Red Sea, is expected to increase trade volume between the two countries. According to the Saudi state news agency, the bridge will be between 7 to 10 kilometers long, connecting northwestern Saudi Arabia to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The bridge will include a passenger vehicle lane, a special road for trucks, and a railway line for trains. King Salman stated, 'This is a historic step that will connect the two continents of Africa and Asia via a land road. It will also significantly increase trade exchanges between the two continents and benefit the exports of both countries.' He continued, 'The bridge will serve as an international route for upcoming projects between the two countries and will become a main passage for travelers, pilgrims, and tourists. Additionally, it will create many job opportunities for the children of the region.' Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians work in Saudi Arabia, and thousands of Egyptians go on Umrah pilgrimage annually. Egyptians have recorded the highest number of Umrah trips among Muslim countries. The bridge is expected to facilitate travel between the two countries once completed. Saudi Arabia and Egypt also signed an agreement to delineate maritime borders between the two countries. Reuters reported that the details of this agreement have not yet been announced. The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail. Meanwhile, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt will help resolve regional issues, including in Yemen, Palestine, and other countries. He also presented the 'Nile Necklace,' the highest official honor in Egypt, to King Salman. El-Sisi and King Salman held lengthy discussions on Friday with delegations from both sides, which ultimately led to the signing of several agreements between the two countries.