CAIRO – 21 August 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived in the Saudi city of NEOM on Thursday, where he is set to hold talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince welcomed President Sisi as he arrived at NEOM Bay Airport.
According to a statement by the Presidency, Sisi and the Saudi crown prince will hold talks on the ongoing war in Gaza and Red Sea security, among other key issues.
They will also address a range of regional developments, including the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen.
Moreover, discussions will explore ways to bolster the strategic partnership between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, serving their shared interests across political, economic, and developmental fields.
Sisi’s visit underscores the deep-rooted and historic ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and reflects the commitment of both leaderships to further enhance bilateral relations, the statement added.
The visit also aims to enhance coordination and consultation on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Their meeting comes while Egypt and Qatar, with the support of Arab and Muslim nations, are pressing for a ceasefire in Gaza, in a bid to end the war that has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians over the past 22 months.
Cairo and Doha recently submitted a proposal for a 60-day truce, based on an earlier plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, which would see Hamas release half of the captives they hold — both living and deceased.
Hamas has accepted the proposal, while Israel is expected to respond on Friday.
The war in Gaza has sparked tensions across the region, including in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi forces have targeted Israel-linked vessels, disrupting global shipping.
Tensions in the Red Sea have led an estimated 60% drop in Suez Canal revenues — a key source of foreign currency for Egypt — resulting in billions of dollars in losses.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are part of the Ministerial Committee mandated by the Joint Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on developments in the Gaza Strip, which has been calling for a permanent cessation of Israeli aggression since the war commenced.
Thu, Aug. 21, 2025
