Egypt and Saudi Arabia have approved plans for a monumental new project, the 'Moses Bridge'. This massive Red Sea crossing will connect Africa and Asia, both literally and symbolically, setting the stage for a new era in trade, tourism, and regional mobility.
After decades on the drawing board, the vision of a 32-kilometer link across the Red Sea is finally gaining traction. With finalised plans now in place, the so-called "Moses Bridge" could reshape the regional map. This blog explores its background, implications, and what it means for businesses eyeing expansion in the Gulf.
The idea of connecting Egypt and Saudi Arabia by land first surfaced back in 1988. It gained real momentum during King Salman’s 2016 visit to Cairo. Fast forward to June 2025, and Egypt’s transport minister says The project, whether a bridge or tunnel, "is ready to implement at any time."
Saudi Arabia is expected to finance the entire $4 billion bill, positioning the project within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy for regional leadership and economic transformation.
Stretching about 32 kilometers from Ras Hamid in Saudi Arabia to Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh, the so-called Moses Bridge draws its name from the biblical tale of parting the Red Sea, a nod to its cultural resonance.
The bridge is expected to:
The Moses Bridge is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project, a $500 billion city of the future on the Kingdom’s northwest coast, is a key part of the same regional reinvention. The bridge also aligns with Saudi’s expanding rail network, which aims to link up commercial hubs across the Middle East.
Together, these efforts position the Kingdom as a logistical powerhouse connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The Moses Bridge is a strategic piece of Saudi Arabia’s broader logistics transformation, a key pillar of Vision 2030. The Kingdom aims to become a global logistics hub linking three continents, leveraging its geographic position and investing in infrastructure to drive diversification.
Under Vision 2030:
The Moses Bridge fits seamlessly into this roadmap, reinforcing:
For businesses, this presents long-term opportunities in freight, warehousing, supply chain tech, and multi-modal logistics.
With more than 12% of global maritime trade flowing through the Red Sea, adding a land-based corridor is no small shift. This bridge could:
At the same time, environmental concerns are on the radar. The Tiran Strait is home to delicate coral ecosystems, and the project’s proximity has raised valid questions.
However, a key diplomatic hurdle, the transfer of sovereignty over the Tiran and Sanafir islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia in 2017, has already been cleared. Planners are expected to adopt eco-conscious designs, possibly opting for a hybrid bridge-tunnel solution to protect marine life.
Peninsula clients often ask what’s behind Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure surge. The Moses Bridge offers a clear answer: this is about long-term, regional integration.
For businesses in logistics, transport, tourism, construction, and professional services, the opportunities are growing. With easier access between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, market entry and regional expansion just got a lot more attractive.
The Moses Bridge is a symbol of what's possible when vision, diplomacy, and investment converge. For companies looking at the Gulf, this is yet another sign: the future is being built now.
Looking to expand your business into Saudi Arabia? Schedule a free consultation with Peninsula to explore how our expert guidance and end-to-end setup services can help you build with confidence in the Kingdom.
Alistair Paine brings 15 years of dedicated experience in Saudi market entry, guiding Fortune 500 companies and innovative scale-ups through successful establishment in the Kingdom. His expertise in Saudi company formation, licensing and market entry strategy, positions him as a leading authority and consultant in international business expansion to Saudi Arabia.
Schedule a free consultation with Alistair and the Peninsula team to understand which market entry strategy is best suited to your business setup in Saudi Arabia.
Email: Alistair@peninsulacs.com
