CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concluded a working visit to Cairo on September 15 with agreement to accelerate efforts to remove barriers to trade and investment and with broad alignment on key regional positions, including Red Sea security, Yemen, Sudan and the Palestinian issue.
The two leaders agreed to intensify work on “practical measures” to remove obstacles constraining bilateral trade and investment, reinforcing an economic framework already developed through the Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council and the bilateral investment-protection architecture established in 2024.
The emphasis now shifts towards implementation: resolving remaining investor issues, expanding commercial flows and translating institutional cooperation into measurable investment and trade activity.
The commercial base is substantial. Saudi Arabia is among Egypt’s largest Arab economic partners, while Egyptian non-oil exports to the kingdom reached about $1.65bn in the first half of 2026, reinforcing Riyadh’s position as a major destination for Egyptian goods. Saudi private-sector representatives have put their investments in Egypt at more than $35bn, although Egyptian official estimates vary depending on methodology.
Security featured prominently in the talks. Sisi said the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf was an integral part of Egyptian national security and reaffirmed Cairo’s rejection of threats to the kingdom’s sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity. The leaders also stressed the importance of safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea, strategic routes for Saudi energy exports and Egypt’s Suez Canal-linked economy.
The discussions came amid heightened regional risks and renewed pressure on energy and shipping routes, increasing the strategic importance of coordination between Cairo and Riyadh on maritime security and regional stability.
On Yemen, Egypt backed Saudi efforts towards a comprehensive political settlement. On Sudan, both sides stressed preservation of state institutions, sovereignty and territorial unity. On the Palestinian issue, Cairo and Riyadh reiterated support for humanitarian access, regional de-escalation and a two-state settlement.
The economic follow-through will be closely watched across several files, including remaining Saudi investor obstacles, customs and logistics integration, sovereign-investment cooperation and completion of the 3GW Egypt-Saudi electricity interconnector.
The visit ultimately reinforced a broader strategic direction: deepening economic integration while aligning Egyptian and Saudi positions on regional security, energy corridors and political stability across the Middle East.
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