RIYADH: Air connectivity between Egypt and the UAE is set to receive a boost after the two countries agreed to gradually expand bilateral air transport rights, giving airlines greater flexibility to increase services.
The memorandum of understanding, signed during the 11th ICAO Africa-Indian Ocean Aviation Week in Cairo, is aimed at strengthening direct air links, meeting rising travel demand and supporting passenger movement, trade and investment, Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
The memorandum builds on a letter of intent signed by the two aviation authorities in April 2025 covering artificial intelligence, strategic planning and the exchange of expertise. That arrangement also provided for the establishment of a joint steering committee to oversee its implementation.
The agreement comes as the Middle East strengthens its role as a global aviation hub. The region’s airlines accounted for about 10 percent of global passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger-km, in 2025, handling more than 900 billion RPKs, driven by their extensive long-haul networks connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, according to the International Air Transport Association.
In a press release, the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation said: “The signing of the memorandum of understanding embodies the depth of Egyptian-Emirati relations and reflects the shared vision to enhance cooperation in civil aviation in a way that keeps pace with the rapid developments taking place in the air transport industry at the regional and international levels.”
