The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad announced on Saturday, 7 November 2026, the release of the Egyptian fishing boat Mohamed Abu al-Azayem and its crew of nine Egyptian sailors, after it had been held in the Saudi region of Tabuk on the Red Sea since 16 October.
The ministry said in its statement that the boat left the Tabuk area heading to Egypt with the sailors on board, after being supplied with fuel, food and provisions, and attributed the release to cooperation with the Saudi authorities. The ministry urged fishermen not to cross the territorial waters of neighbouring countries without permits.
The boat had entered Saudi territorial waters “by mistake” on Friday, 16 October 2026, according to the ministry’s announcement, and it remained held with its crew for 22 days until the release was announced. The statement did not specify which Saudi authority held the boat, nor whether fines were imposed on its owner or the sailors.
The Foreign Ministry had announced on Monday, 26 October 2026, that it was following the detention of the boat and its crew, that the boat had entered Saudi territorial waters by mistake, and that its consulate in Jeddah contacted the Saudi coast guard and port authorities to speed up the procedures for the return of the boat and its crew.
Photo: Wex Major 98 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
