Egypt Says It's Ready to Build Red Sea Bridge to Saudi
Egypt's transport minister Kamel al-Wazir has confirmed that the long-discussed bridge connecting Egypt and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea is ready to move forward.
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“We have now completed the planning for the bridge between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and are ready to implement it at any time, whether a bridge or a tunnel,” Al-Wazir told Reuters. He also serves as Egypt’s deputy prime minister.
Connecting Africa and Asia
If built, the bridge will connect Ras Alsheikh Hamid in Saudi Arabia with Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, passing over Tiran Island. The project will serve as a high-speed rail corridor designed to transport cargo and travelers across the Straits of Tiran.
The goal? To significantly boost trade and tourism between Africa and Asia.
Originally Proposed in 2016
The idea isn’t new. Back in 2016, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz first announced the plans, calling it a “historic step” that would reshape regional trade.
“This historic step to connect the two continents, Africa and Asia, is a qualitative transformation that will increase trade between the two continents to unprecedented levels,” King Salman said at the time.
Bridge to Cost $4 Billion
The estimated cost of the project is around $4 billion (about £2.9 billion), with Saudi Arabia expected to cover the bill. The bridge is also seen as a complementary piece to Saudi’s massive Neom project, a futuristic, $500 billion development being built on the kingdom’s northwestern coast.
Neom’s most talked-about element is The Line, a proposed 170-kilometre-long linear city featuring two parallel skyscrapers 500 meters tall. While construction has already started, some experts have raised environmental concerns, including potential impacts on the region’s climate.
A Time of Mega Projects
The Red Sea bridge isn’t the only massive development in the region. Egypt is also pushing ahead with its New Administrative Capital, located 45 kilometers east of Cairo. Planned to house over six million people, the new city has been grabbing attention with its sheer scale.
With the bridge plan now ready to go, all eyes are on when ground will officially break. If completed, it will mark a major milestone, physically and symbolically linking two continents.