Egypt said to manage Tiran, Sanafir after Saudi transfer

Egypt plans to keep administrative control over the Red Sea Islands, Tiran and Sanafir, that will be transferred to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported citing a government report advising parliament on the terms of the agreement, ahead of a vote.

"The agreement only ends (Egyptian) sovereignty and does not end the necessity of Egypt protecting this area for reasons of Egyptian and Saudi Arabian national security," the report said.

This is the first indication Egypt intends to maintain some control over the uninhabited islands, whose transfer to Saudi Arabia set off protests among Egyptians and was declared void by an Egyptian court last June.

According to the report, Egyptians would not need visas to visit the islands, which are situated in the narrow entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba leading to Jordan and Israel.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement in early April 2016 stating that the two Red Sea islands fall within Saudi waters, paving the way for a transfer of sovereignty to Riyadh, Argaam reported earlier.