Red Sea

The Red Sea is a long, narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean situated between Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Renowned for its historical, economic, and ecological importance, the Red Sea forms one of the world’s most strategic waterways, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Its distinctive reddish hue, from which it takes its name, derives from periodic blooms of the Trichodesmium erythraeum algae, giving parts of the sea a characteristic rusty appearance.

Geography and Physical Characteristics

The Red Sea stretches approximately 2,250 kilometres from the Gulf of Suez in the north to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the south, where it opens into the Gulf of Aden. It is relatively narrow, ranging between 30 and 355 kilometres in width, and has an average depth of 490 metres, with its deepest point—the Suakin Trough—reaching about 3,040 metres.
The sea covers an area of roughly 438,000 square kilometres and is bordered by six countries:

• Egypt and Sudan to the west,
• Eritrea to the southwest,
• Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the east,
• Jordan and Israel at the northernmost tip.

It is divided into two northern extensions:

• The Gulf of Suez, leading to the Suez Canal, which links to the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Gulf of Aqaba, flanked by the Sinai Peninsula, providing access to ports such as Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel).

Geological Formation

The Red Sea occupies part of the Great Rift Valley, a vast tectonic system resulting from the divergence of the African and Arabian Plates. This rifting process began about 30 million years ago, gradually widening the basin and forming new oceanic crust.
The region remains geologically active, with continued seafloor spreading at an estimated rate of about 1–2 centimetres per year. The geological features include extensive mid-ocean ridges, deep basins, and hydrothermal vents, making the Red Sea an area of significant scientific interest for studying plate tectonics and marine geology.

Climate and Salinity

The Red Sea experiences an arid, subtropical climate, with high temperatures and low rainfall throughout the year. Air temperatures average 26–30°C, while sea surface temperatures remain consistently warm, between 22°C in winter and 30°C in summer, making it one of the warmest seas in the world.
Evaporation greatly exceeds freshwater inflow, as no major rivers flow into the Red Sea. This results in high salinity levels, averaging 40 parts per thousand, higher than most other oceanic bodies. The salinity contributes to its buoyant waters and clear visibility, ideal conditions for coral growth and diving tourism.

Marine Ecology and Biodiversity

The Red Sea is celebrated for its exceptional marine biodiversity, including over 1,200 species of fish, about 10% of which are endemic, and more than 200 species of coral. Its coral reef systems, particularly along the Egyptian and Saudi Arabian coasts, are among the most vibrant in the world, stretching over 2,000 kilometres.
Notable marine life includes dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, reef sharks, and manta rays, as well as numerous invertebrates. The region’s unique environmental conditions—warm, saline, and nutrient-poor waters—have fostered ecosystems adapted to extreme conditions.
Marine reserves such as Ras Mohammed National Park (Egypt) and Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area (Saudi Arabia) safeguard these fragile habitats. However, threats from overfishing, coral bleaching, pollution, and coastal development pose ongoing conservation challenges.

Historical and Cultural Importance

The Red Sea has been a vital maritime corridor since antiquity, serving as a bridge between civilisations of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Ancient Egyptians referred to it as the “Sea of Reeds”, using it for expeditions to the fabled land of Punt as early as the 25th century BCE.
In the Biblical tradition, the Red Sea is famously associated with the story of Moses and the Exodus, when the Israelites are said to have crossed it during their flight from Egypt.
During the Classical and Mediaeval periods, the Red Sea was central to trade between the Mediterranean world and India, forming part of the spice trade route. Ports such as Suez, Jeddah, and Aden flourished as hubs of commerce and pilgrimage, particularly for Muslims travelling to Mecca.

Economic and Strategic Importance

Today, the Red Sea remains one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes. It provides the shortest sea passage between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal, completed in 1869. The canal connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, enabling vessels to avoid the long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope.
Approximately 10–12% of global trade, including significant volumes of oil and gas, passes through the Red Sea annually. Major ports such as Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Port Sudan (Sudan), Suez (Egypt), and Aqaba (Jordan) handle commercial shipping, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains a vital chokepoint in international navigation.
Given its strategic location, the Red Sea has been a focal point of geopolitical rivalry among regional and global powers. Control over its shipping lanes has historically influenced trade and military strategy, from the British Empire’s colonial period to modern tensions involving the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Tourism and Economic Development

The Red Sea’s clear waters, coral reefs, and abundant marine life make it a major centre for tourism, particularly diving and snorkelling. Popular destinations include:

• Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada (Egypt)
• Eilat (Israel)
• Aqaba (Jordan)
• Jeddah and the Farasan Islands (Saudi Arabia)

These resorts attract millions of visitors annually and play a key role in the economies of bordering nations. Sustainable tourism initiatives aim to balance economic growth with the preservation of the Red Sea’s delicate ecosystems.

Environmental Challenges

Despite its ecological and economic value, the Red Sea faces mounting environmental pressures:

• Coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures.
• Pollution from shipping, oil spills, and coastal urbanisation.
• Destructive fishing practices, including dynamite and trawling.
• Tourism-related damage to coral reefs.

Regional cooperation has emerged to address these issues, notably through the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), established in 1982. This intergovernmental body promotes environmental protection and sustainable use of marine resources.

Modern Geopolitical Context

The Red Sea remains at the centre of contemporary geopolitical dynamics. Its surrounding nations form part of complex political alliances and rivalries, influenced by security, energy, and trade interests. The area near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in particular, is crucial for international shipping and has seen military presence from multiple powers, including the United States, China, and European nations, as part of anti-piracy and security operations.
Recent initiatives, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 project and the Neom megacity development along the Red Sea coast, highlight its growing role in regional economic transformation.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Beyond its economic and ecological roles, the Red Sea carries immense cultural and spiritual importance. It features prominently in Abrahamic religious traditions, serving as a symbol of deliverance and divine intervention in the Biblical narrative. In Islamic history, it functioned as a vital maritime route for pilgrims travelling to the Hijaz region.