Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit Egypt on an official trip from September 16-19, at the invitation of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The visit, during which they will be accompanied by Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation José Manuel Albares, marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations, which were elevated to a strategic partnership last February.
It also provides an opportunity to deepen the historical, political, economic, cultural, and scientific ties between the two nations.
According to a statement from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, King Felipe and Queen Letizia will be officially received by Sisi and his wife at the Ittihadiya Palace, where a formal reception will highlight the strength of their relationship.
The royal couple is also scheduled to visit several Spanish economic, cultural, and scientific projects in both Cairo and Luxor, including Spanish archaeological missions at ancient Egyptian sites, particularly those related to the temples of Luxor.
An Egyptian-Spanish business forum is expected to be held during the visit, bringing together business leaders from both countries to discuss investment opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, and tourism.
The forum will focus on joint projects in digital transformation and sustainable development.
Official sources have confirmed that the visit will also address regional issues, including stability in North Africa and support for humanitarian efforts in Gaza, where Egypt is considered a strategic partner for Spain in the region.
In a statement to the press, Spanish Foreign Minister Albares expressed his country’s desire to “strengthen the strategic partnership that began its journey in February to achieve common interests in the face of global challenges.”
The relationship between Egypt and Spain has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages, with strong commercial and cultural ties during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras.
At that time, Spain (Al-Andalus) was part of the Islamic world and saw significant scientific exchange in fields like medicine and mathematics.
In the modern era, formal diplomatic relations were established in 1922 and saw a notable rapprochement between Gamal Abdel Nasser and Franco, despite regional tensions. The relationship grew even stronger after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, as Spain supported Egypt’s democratic transition and became a key European partner for Egypt within the European Union.
In February, during Sisi’s visit to Madrid, both countries signed a joint declaration to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership covering areas such as economy, trade, defense, immigration, culture, and agriculture.
According to official reports, this upgrade has led to the signing of memorandums of understanding in transport, economy, and health. Trade between the two countries reached approximately €2.5 billion in 2024, with Egypt being Spain’s primary trading partner in North Africa, accounting for 0.48 percent of Spain’s exports and 0.23 percent of its imports.
