Sudanese–Saudi Strategic Cooperation
Dr. Adel Abdelaziz Al-Faki
The establishment of a Red Sea Security Alliance has become an urgent necessity at this stage.
During the devastating floods and heavy rains of 1988, Saudi Arabia rebuilt schools and major parts of Sudan’s health sector. In the context of the current war, the Kingdom has pledged to contribute to the reconstruction of Sudan’s infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 explicitly calls for a strategic partnership with Sudan. The well-deserved warm reception accorded to the victorious leader, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, during his visit to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands as clear evidence of the depth of fraternal relations between the Sudanese and Saudi peoples.
General Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, was received by the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. The meeting resulted in an agreement between the two brotherly countries to form a joint committee to coordinate cooperation across various fields.
In its relations with Sudan, Saudi Arabia focuses on three key areas. The first is strategic coordination aimed at preserving Sudanese state institutions, foremost among them the great Sudanese Armed Forces. We further call for this strategic coordination to evolve into the establishment of the foundations and structure of a Red Sea Security Alliance comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Yemen (following the completion of ongoing Saudi operations there).
The second area of Saudi interest relates to urgent humanitarian needs, particularly in water, health, and food security, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
The third area concerns the Kingdom’s participation in reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, through the Saudi Fund for Development.
Saudi Arabia’s cooperation with Sudan in times of crisis has a long and well-established history. In 1988, Sudan suffered a catastrophic flood disaster that destroyed vital infrastructure in the health and education sectors. At that time, the Saudi leadership directed the establishment of an air bridge consisting of more than 100 flights that delivered food, blankets, and medicines to millions of affected people. The Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah—of which Saudi Arabia is the largest contributor—was also instructed to rebuild hospitals, health centers, and schools at a cost exceeding USD 500 million.
During the current war, the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made highly significant humanitarian contributions and is now moving toward active participation in reconstruction and rebuilding efforts.
Saudi Arabia possesses a strong economy. In 2023, its gross domestic product in purchasing power parity reached USD 1.8 trillion, ranking 18th globally, while per capita GDP stood at USD 55,100, ranking 36th worldwide. In 2022, its sovereign wealth fund became the largest in the world, with assets valued at USD 2 trillion.
The resources of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund are instrumental in implementing Vision 2030, which shares many points of convergence with Sudan’s reconstruction plans. The vision explicitly states that Saudi industries will focus on areas of strength and avoid areas of weakness—such as scarce water resources—by directing investment toward Egypt and Sudan.
There are numerous opportunities for economic cooperation and integration between Saudi Arabia and Sudan, given Sudan’s abundant natural resources and the Kingdom’s substantial financing capabilities. This is further reinforced by access to large and open markets within the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, the COMESA region, and the Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as the opportunity for joint investment in mineral resources located on the seabed of the Red Sea between the two countries.
In 2016, Sudan’s Council of Ministers and National Assembly approved the allocation of a one-million-feddan agricultural project to Saudi Arabia at the Setit Dam in eastern Sudan, under a bilateral agreement. This project could have marked the starting point for implementing Saudi Arabia’s vision for Sudan. The opportunity remains available, pending the outcomes of feasibility studies that will determine the future of production, whether in livestock or agricultural development.
Many infrastructure projects in Sudan—such as roads, airports, seaports, and railways—can be implemented through the BOOT system (Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer). Under this model, the Kingdom would finance construction through qualified international contractors, while the Sudanese government would guarantee repayment through the application of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.
God grants success.
