Saudi Arabia strengthens economic ties with Mauritania and Egypt

Saudi Arabia maintains a strategic economic partnership with Mauritania, characterized by long-term development support and financial stability measures. The Saudi Fund for Development has supported 31 projects in Mauritania since 1979, totaling approximately $1 billion across sectors such as water, energy, roads, agriculture, and education. Notably, the fund contributed $34 million to the Arciz agricultural project to enhance food security.

In terms of debt management, Saudi Arabia provided a $300 million loan to the Mauritanian Central Bank following commodity price drops in 2014 and 2015. In 2022, the Kingdom agreed to restructure this debt, extending the repayment period to 20 years and reducing the interest rate to 1%, a move recognized by the International Monetary Fund for reducing Mauritania's debt service burden.

Separately, Egyptian food industry exports to Saudi Arabia reached a record $564 million in 2025, a 15% increase from the previous year. This growth involved 558 Egyptian companies, with chocolate leading the exports at $91 million. Other significant export categories included grain products, biscuits, and frozen vegetables.