Panicky Iran announces tankers on fire in Strait of Hormuz as Houthis impose Saudi naval blockade
Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden through which Saudi oil exports and a substantial share of global shipping pass. Any serious interference at Bab el-Mandeb, coming after months of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, would raise the prospect that both of the region’s major oil export routes could be shut simultaneously.
Living unseen war: How Iran’s war against US and Israel is wrecking Egyptian, Maghreb economies
The tourism industry, another pillar of Egypt’s economy, is beginning to feel the strain. After a strong recovery in 2025 driven by improved security conditions, favourable exchange rates and the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the sector had been expecting to welcome about 21 million visitors in 2026, up from 19 million the previous year. Now, those expectations face growing uncertainty.
