Saudi Expands Interconnectivity Pillar of IMEC with Egypt Submarine Cable Deal
The expansion of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’s (IMEC) interconnectivity pillar now includes a Saudi-Egypt submarine cable that was agreed upon in a recent agreement between Saudi Mobily and Telecom Egypt, with a potential for future expansions into Europe. This new Mobily-owned cable further entrenches Egypt as a crucial hub in IMEC’s evolving web of digital and energy connections—a role increasingly embraced by Cairo as it navigates complex regional alliances and economic opportunities. It also serves as a tangible asset within IMEC, which has, over the past year, fast-tracked its vision to transform regional infrastructure for data and energy flow.
IMEC, spanning continents with planned rail, shipping, and subsea connectivity linking India to the EU, has thus far catalysed bilateral and multilateral projects from India to the UAE and beyond.
In addition to digital connectivity, IMEC’s ambitions extend into energy. In 2023, Egypt and Saudi Arabia launched an electricity interconnection project, aiming to facilitate the exchange of up to 3 GW of electricity between the two nations. Expected to be operational by mid-2025, the project will link critical converter stations in Saudi Arabia with Egypt’s, allowing for a transmission capacity of up to 1.5 GW across the Red Sea.
Interconnectivity plans
The Saudi-Egypt cable deal falls in line with a broader Saudi plan for boosting interconnectivity. In September, Saudi Arabia and India signed an agreement to link their power grids through subsea cables, connecting their energy resources as part of India’s ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ initiative. This energy interconnection plan spans the entire IMEC framework, stretching from India to Europe.
The UAE, a regional champion of IMEC, has also taken substantial strides to strengthen its links to the broader network. Recent discussions with India have raised plans to connect the UAE’s power grid through subsea cables. Beyond energy, MENA Unleashed recently shed light on how the Emirates is weaponising interdependence by embedding itself in the global technological supply chains for critical technologies, including semiconductors, viewing these industries as central to national security and economic resilience.
Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in emerging technologies and digital infrastructure through its “Project Transcendence.” MENA Unleashed recently reported on this $100 billion initiative, designed to rival the UAE’s AI powerhouse G42 by building a regional ecosystem of AI start-ups, data centres, and semiconductor infrastructure, while creating a digital and logistics network that spans from Asia to Europe.
These Saudi-led projects demonstrate the corridor’s growing maturity and tangible impacts. However, IMEC's swift ascent also presents a looming challenge for opposition forces, particularly Iran and the BRICS bloc. As the corridor develops deeper ties across Asia, Africa, and Europe, it challenges the influence of neighbouring players pursuing alternative visions for the Middle East.
IMEC Cables Expansions
In parallel with the IMEC developments, Telecom Egypt recently announced plans to form an international alliance for a substantial new submarine cable project, partnering with three telecom companies in the UAE, Indonesia, and India. The proposed cable, spanning 11,000 kilometres, will connect Southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia and Singapore, with India, Oman, the UAE, and Egypt.
North Africa, currently lacking a unified cable, will soon benefit from Medusa, an 8,700km cable connecting southern Europe to the region, with potential links through Egypt extending to Asia. The cable is expected to activate in the eastern Mediterranean in 2025 and in the western segment by 2026.
Cyprus, a gateway to Europe in the IMEC corridor, also recently revealed plans for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a 1,240-km interconnector that will link Europe’s and the Middle East’s power grids, slated for completion by 2030.
The GSI will connect Greece via Crete to Cyprus and eventually Israel, at an estimated cost of €2.4 billion.
Together, these projects showcase the growing push towards greater digital and energy interconnectivity across regions critical to the IMEC framework.