Saudi Arabia will build a bridge over the Red Sea to Egypt, the Arab nation’s king has announced.
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However, with a struggling economy and the tourism industry in shambles, it appears Egypt is looking to sow its friendship with Saudi Arabia to keep its economy afloat.
Saudi Arabia has been the key backer of Sisi since 2013, when the then-army chief overthrew his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi, whose Muslim Brotherhood movement was viewed with suspicion by Riyadh.
“King Salman’s visit to Egypt is meant to bolster ties and strategic partnership between the two countries in a manner that helps face regional threats and crises”, said the Egyptian president.
The bridge is a “historical step that will connect Asia and Africa”, and will increase “exports of the two countries to the rest of the world”, the 80-year-old Salman said.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomes Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in Cairo, Egypt, in this handout photo received April 7, 2016.
Sisi, who earlier presented the king with the ceremonial Nile Collar, Egypt’s highest honour, suggested they name the crossing King Salman bin Abdel Aziz Bridge.
Al Ekhbariya channel spot light on relations binding the kingdom and Egypt.
The agreements, signed with the Saudi finance minister, covered development in the Sinai peninsula, agriculture, housing and a university, Nasr told Al-Ahram newspaper.
President Sisi said it marked “a new chapter on the road of Arab joint action”.
The most recent proposal, for a 20-mile bridge in 2011, was expected to cost roughly $5 billion, which planners said would be easily offset by the tolls paid by pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia’s holy sites.
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On Sunday, the Saudi leader will deliver a speech in the Egyptian parliament.
