Saudi Arabia's Neom to come closer to Egypt through Bridge Moses
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have announced plans to
construct a bridge across the Red Sea, aimed at providing millions of people
with direct access to The Line, the futuristic city at the heart of Saudi
Arabia’s Neom megaproject. This ambitious multi-billion-euro initiative is set
to boost tourism, pilgrimage traffic, and trade in the region.
The Vision
Behind the Bridge
What’s the point of creating a world-changing
megaproject if it’s difficult to reach? This question lies at the core of the
planning behind Neom. To address this challenge, Saudi Arabia is launching the Moses
Bridge, an infrastructure project designed to directly connect Egypt to the
heart of the futuristic city.
The Moses Bridge—named after the biblical story
of the parted sea—will span the Red Sea at one of its narrowest points, the Strait
of Tiran. The goal is to link the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with Ras
Hamid, which serves as the western entry point to The Line. This bridge would
provide a seamless, direct route from Egypt to Saudi Arabia’s high-tech city,
promoting faster access for both tourists and pilgrims.
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Reviving
a Long-Considered Idea
While the concept of such a bridge isn't new,
it has been decades in the making. The idea was first proposed in 1988, but
political tensions at the time delayed any progress. However, the project was
revived in 2016, and now, Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir has confirmed
that plans are in place and could move forward at any moment. The final
decision on whether the link will take the form of a bridge or a tunnel remains
undecided.
Project
Scale and Impact
The Moses Bridge is expected to stretch
between 14 to 24 kilometers, depending on the final design and route. While not
the longest bridge in the world, it will be a massive engineering feat, with an
estimated cost of $4 billion USD (roughly 3.3 billion Swiss francs). Saudi
Arabia will fully fund the project, which aligns with its strategic interest in
improving access to Neom.
By making travel easier, especially for those
coming from Africa or heading to Mecca for pilgrimage, the bridge will
significantly increase accessibility to the city. The existing ferry routes are
slow and could eventually hinder the growing maritime traffic in the region.
With the new bridge, over an additional one million people would be able to
travel by land each year, helping to boost regional tourism and economic
exchanges.
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Potential
for Future Connectivity
Though the bridge’s primary purpose is to
enhance access to The Line, discussions are also ongoing about whether the
infrastructure could support rail services as well. If trains are added, it
would further integrate the transportation network between Egypt and Saudi
Arabia.
The toll revenues from the bridge are
projected to recoup construction costs within ten years, making it not only a
vital link for travelers but also a financially sustainable project in the long
run.
This
Moses Bridge is a key element of the Saudi vision to create a connected,
futuristic city at Neom, driving both regional and international traffic to
this ambitious megaproject.
Source: /www.travelnews.ch
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