Egypt and Tanzania Advance Plans for New Maritime Trade Corridor

Proposed shipping and multimodal links between Egypt and Tanzania could connect Dar es Salaam with Egyptian ports and open new routes between East Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The creation of the new maritime link was discussed during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s state visit to Tanzania on 18 July 2026, when the two governments signed memoranda of understanding covering transport, electricity and renewable energy.

Direct Shipping Links Under Discussion

According to reports, the two countries discussed establishing a direct maritime shipping route connecting Egypt’s Safaga Port with the Port of Dar es Salaam.

The discussions also considered a wider multimodal corridor between Cairo and Dar es Salaam, supported by a series of joint infrastructure and development projects.

El-Sisi said Egypt was prepared to participate in the expansion and development of Dar es Salaam Port, with the project integrated into a wider logistics network connecting Tanzania with neighboring markets.

Tanzania Announces Dar-Cairo Cargo Hub

Tanzanian reporting provided additional details about the proposed logistics network. Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said the countries were in the final stages of establishing a cargo transport hub connecting Dar es Salaam with Egypt’s Ain Sokhna Port.

“This hub will open a new trade route linking Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and other global markets,” Mbarawa said.

He added that a Tanzanian delegation was expected to travel to Egypt later in July to conclude discussions and formally finalize the project.

The reference to Ain Sokhna differs from the Egyptian announcement identifying Safaga as the proposed maritime partner for Dar es Salaam. It remains unclear whether the governments are considering separate links or whether the final Egyptian port has yet to be confirmed.

Investment Opportunities Along the Corridor

Mbarawa said the corridor would be supported by maritime infrastructure, logistics facilities and modern transport systems.

“We invite investors to capitalize on the opportunities that will emerge from this new corridor, which will be anchored by maritime transport infrastructure, logistics facilities and modern transport systems,” he said.

Egyptian Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El Khatib described Tanzania and Egypt as strategic trade gateways, with Tanzania connecting East and Central Africa and Egypt providing access to Europe and wider international markets.

Wider Cooperation Agreements Signed

The discussions extended beyond transport. The two governments signed two memoranda of understanding spanning transport, electricity and renewable energy, while also exploring cooperation in roads, logistics zones, agriculture, irrigation, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Egypt also proposed an agricultural land reclamation project intended to produce strategic crops for domestic markets and, eventually, export.

No investment figures or detailed implementation schedules have yet been announced for the port, shipping or multimodal corridor projects.

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