Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt-Saudi Arabia power link sets stage for regional energy hub
Egypt is making significant progress towards becoming a regional energy hub, according to new infographics shared by the Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center.
The information highlights Egypt’s ambitious efforts to expand its electricity connections with neighboring Arab, African, and European countries.
One of the most important projects is the electricity interconnection with Saudi Arabia, described as a strategic step toward regional integration and strengthening energy security.
These achievements are supported by Egypt’s rapid growth in renewable energy and solid investment in its electricity infrastructure over the past years. This progress has encouraged both local and foreign investment in Egypt’s energy sector and bolstered the country’s position as a regional energy powerhouse.
International organizations have praised Egypt’s initiatives. The International Energy Agency called the joint Egypt-Saudi Arabia interconnection “the first large-scale high-voltage direct current project in the Middle East and North Africa.” Once completed, it will allow the exchange of up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity between the two countries.
Egypt has also launched interconnection projects with Jordan, Sudan, and Libya, while pursuing further links to Greece, Cyprus, and Iraq (via Jordan), with ongoing plans to expand regional and international electricity exchange.
Thanks to these national projects, Egypt’s total electricity generation capacity increased by nearly 87% over the past decade, reaching 59,700 megawatts in 2023/24 compared to 32,000 MW in 2013/14. This growth has far outpaced electricity demand, allowing Egypt to shift from a potential shortfall to having a surplus—making it possible to export electricity and solidifying its role as a regional hub.
Major power generation centers include Siemens power plants (like those in the New Administrative Capital, Beni Suef, and Burullus), the Benban Solar Park—one of the world’s largest solar projects—and the Gabal El-Zeit wind farms.
The Egypt-Saudi Arabia electricity interconnection, launched in October 2021, will eventually connect Egypt’s Badr city to Saudi Arabia’s Medina through Tabuk, with the project 76.9% complete as of May 2025. The first phase will deliver 1,500 MW, increasing to 3,000 MW in the second phase.
Other international links include Egypt-Sudan (with plans to boost capacity from 80 to 300 MW), Egypt-Libya (a possible increase to 2,000 MW), Egypt-Jordan (expanding from the current 550 MW to 2,000 MW), and an Egypt-Cyprus-Greece line (up to 6,000 MW in future phases).
These projects will not only enhance the reliability and safety of electricity networks across the region but offer economic benefits and opportunities for technical cooperation between Egypt and its partners. According to international and diplomatic sources, these interconnections are seen as crucial for energy development and stability across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.