At the northern end of the Red Sea, Egypt and Saudi Arabia seem to shyly approach each other without quite touching; this is the Strait of Tiran, which closes off the Gulf of Aqaba and forms the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula to the west, with the promontory of Ras Alsheikh Hamid to the east. The distance between the two countries is reduced to about 13 km at this point. The islands of Tiran and Sanafir guard this narrow passage. Now, this figurative and tentative attempt at an embrace could finally be consummated with a large-scale project, a bridge that would cross the Strait of Tiran, the latest developments of which we have just learned.
Indeed, just a few weeks ago (June 2025), Reuters reported on an exclusive statement by Egypt’s Minister of Transport and Deputy Prime Minister, Kamel al-Wazir, according to which the planning phase of this long-awaited project has already been completed. In fact, it could be launched “at any time, whether a bridge or a tunnel”. It is curious that, if it has already been planned, the minister still cannot tell us whether this connection between the two countries will be via a bridge or a tunnel — or both. Whatever it is, it is undoubtedly a project that defies the laws of physics, but also the geopolitical complexities and even the environmental conditions of the region. After all, such a bridge would cross an area rich in biodiversity and coral reefs.
A historic connection between Asia and Africas
The idea of linking Asia and Africa via a bridge began to be discussed around 2005, but the attempt ran aground due to security and geopolitical issues. Nevertheless, in 2016, during his official visit to Cairo, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and then-Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced an agreement. With ‘planning’ completed and an estimated budget of €3.5 billion to be financed mainly by Saudi Arabia, the start of this pharaonic project — never a truer word spoken — seems closer than ever.
The connection, for which the official name ‘King Salman bin Abdulaziz Bridge’ has been proposed, will link Ras Alsheikh Hamid on the Saudi coast with Sharm el-Sheikh on the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. To do so, it will be supported by and cross the strategic island of Tiran. According to available information, the structure will include roads and a railway line to transport both goods and passengers, the latter being high-speed. This is no minor detail: the bridge is expected to facilitate the pilgrimage to Mecca for millions of African worshippers, as well as boosting intercontinental tourism and trade.
Beyond its practical function, the bridge is a political gesture, a fraternal embrace between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. With it, the former reinforces its regional leadership and its vision of becoming a global logistics and tourism hub, with projects such as NEOM, the futuristic megalopolis that includes the linear city known as The Line, currently under construction. For Egypt, on the other hand, it represents an opportunity to revitalise the Sinai, a region historically marginalised for geographical reasons but key to its economy. No less important is the message of Arab unity that both countries seek to project. With the technical plans ready and financing secured, only the final regulatory, environmental and diplomatic procedures remain before construction can begin, possibly in 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, Parametric Architecture, Dezeen.
