Saudi Arabia and Egypt have launched a hugely ambitious plan to join the two countries by building a bridge over the Red Sea.
The project was announced during the second day of a five day visit by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to Cairo.
In a press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, King Salman said the new link would lift trade between the two continents to unprecedented levels.
“The bridge will be an international outlet for promising projects between the two countries and a major transit for travellers such as pilgrims and tourists in addition to job opportunities that will be provided to the people of the region,” King Salman said.
Reports say the bridge could stretch for close to 50kms – from Ras Nasrani on the Sinai Penin
sula to Ras Hamid in northwestern Saudi Arabia – and cost as much as $4bn though there was no indication of the time frame to construct the causeway.
Following the announcement, representatives of both countries signed a number of investment deals worth billions of dollars for projects in Egypt including energy infrastructure and housing.
Plans for a bridge over the Red Sea have been mooted since as far back as 1988.