Sisi backs Saudi call for secure Red Sea navigation in Cairo talks

September 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM2 min

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo on Tuesday and backed Saudi calls for secure navigation in the Red Sea. The meeting came as Egypt has lost about $7bn in Suez Canal revenues over two years due to Red Sea disruptions. Saudi Arabia seeks to protect shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is now effectively controlled by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Key Facts

Egypt lost approximately $7bn in Suez Canal revenues between 2023 and 2024, about 60 percent of the canal's total, according to the Suez Canal Authority.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday as part of a delegation including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have captured Mocha port and effectively control the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital oil shipping route.
El-Sisi expressed support for Saudi Arabia's efforts to achieve a sustainable political solution to the Yemen conflict.

Cairo Meeting

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo on Tuesday. The Saudi delegation included Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and other senior officials. During the meeting, el-Sisi expressed support for Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect its security and stability. MBS emphasised the importance of secure navigation in both the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Red Sea Disruption

Red Sea disruptions have sharply reduced transit through the Suez Canal, a key source of foreign currency for Egypt. Egypt lost approximately $7bn between 2023 and 2024, or about 60 percent of the Suez Canal's revenues, according to the Suez Canal Authority. Yemen's Houthi rebels have captured Mocha port and effectively control the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Despite Houthi assurances that maritime traffic will not be affected, Saudi-linked ships have been targeted by the group in recent months. Egypt has so far avoided military action to stop the Houthi disruption of tanker traffic in the Red Sea.