In a historic move set to redefine intercontinental connectivity, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have finalized plans to build a strategic bridge across the Red Sea, linking Africa and Asia for the first time via a permanent land connection. The long-anticipated infrastructure, tentatively nicknamed the Moses Bridge, is estimated to cost $4 billion and will connect Ras Hamid in Saudi Arabia to Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
The ambitious project, first floated in the late 1980s and revived during King Salman’s reign, is now “ready for implementation,” according to Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir. Authorities say the final decision on whether the link will be a bridge or an underwater tunnel will depend on technical assessments and geopolitical considerations.
Beyond its symbolic importance, the Moses Bridge is expected to serve as a game-changer for trade, tourism, and religious pilgrimage. The fixed crossing is set to handle over one million travelers per year and significantly reduce dependency on the limited-capacity ferry services currently operated by the Arab Bridge Maritime Company.
Strategically, the structure is also expected to connect directly to Saudi Arabia’s futuristic megacity project NEOM, designed as a $500 billion hub of innovation and green technology. The new corridor will provide vital access to NEOM from the African continent, strengthening its regional appeal and potential for pan-continental cooperation.
The bridge’s nickname evokes the biblical story of Moses parting the Red Sea—an allegory for overcoming divides. The proposed route is also close to sites of deep religious and cultural significance, adding symbolic weight to the infrastructure’s geopolitical ambition.
While the project has cleared major planning hurdles, concerns remain. Environmental experts are closely watching the impact on the Red Sea’s fragile marine ecosystem. Additionally, the region’s complex geopolitical climate may pose challenges that require ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Still, if successfully realized, the Moses Bridge could become one of the most important infrastructure projects in the region’s modern history—physically and symbolically bringing two continents closer together and ushering in a new era of economic and cultural exchange.