Saudi Arabia, Egypt Sign 14 Deals Worth $7.7 Bln

20 June 2022, Egypt, Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) receives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. (SPA)
20 June 2022, Egypt, Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) receives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Sign 14 Deals Worth $7.7 Bln

20 June 2022, Egypt, Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) receives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. (SPA)
20 June 2022, Egypt, Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) receives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. (SPA)

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have signed 14 agreements valued at $7.7 billion during a visit to Cairo by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones said in a statement on Tuesday.

Deals signed on Tuesday included an agreement between Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to produce and transmit 1100 MW of windpower, the authority's statement said.

More renewable energy agreements were signed, as well as deals in involving petroleum products, food and fintech.

Other deals involved the development of the multi-purpose terminal at Egypt's Damietta port, the authority's statement said, and the establishment of a $150 million "pharmaceutical city" by Egypt's Pharco Pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia, the company's chairman told Alsharq TV.

In March, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion in the Egypt's central bank and the Egyptian government has said that cooperation with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund will result in $10 billion in investments.

The Saudi-based ITFC has provided Egypt with $3 billion in new financing for commodity imports, its CEO told Reuters last week.

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi said Saudi investments in Egypt top 30 billion dollars through over 6,000 companies operating in the country and trade exchange that rose 85 percent in 2021 to reach 14.5 billion dollars.

Crown Prince Mohammed arrived in Egypt on Monday night, the first stop on a regional tour that will take him to Jordan and Turkey.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the Saudi royal upon his arrival at Cairo airport.



Saudi Interior Ministry Announces Fines on Unauthorized Hajj Pilgrims, Facilitators 

A view of the Kaaba in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A view of the Kaaba in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi Interior Ministry Announces Fines on Unauthorized Hajj Pilgrims, Facilitators 

A view of the Kaaba in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
A view of the Kaaba in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced Monday fines on individuals who violate regulations requiring a permit to perform the Hajj, as well as for those who facilitate such violations.

Starting from April 29 until the end of June 10, the following fines will apply:

First, a fine of up to SAR20,000 will be imposed on individuals caught performing or attempting to perform the Hajj without a permit, and on holders of all types of visit visas who attempt to enter or stay in Makkah city and the holy sites during the specified period.

Second, a fine of up to SAR100,000 will be imposed on anyone who applies for a visit visa for an individual who has performed or attempted to perform the Hajj without a permit, or who has entered or stayed in Makkah city and the holy sites during the specified period. The fine will multiply for each individual involved.

The same fine will apply to anyone who transports or attempts to transport visit visa holders to Makkah city and the holy sites during the specified period, as well as to those who shelter or attempt to shelter visit visa holders in any accommodations, including hotels, apartments, private housing, shelters, or Hajj pilgrims' housing sites. This includes concealing their presence or providing assistance that enables their stay. The fine will multiply for each individual sheltered, concealed, or assisted.

Third, illegal infiltrators attempting to perform the Hajj, whether residents or overstayers, will be deported to their countries and banned from entering the Kingdom for ten years.

Fourth, the relevant court will be requested to confiscate land vehicles used to transport visit visa holders to Makkah city and the holy sites during the specified period, if owned by the transporter, facilitator, or any accomplices.