Saudi crown prince to visit Egypt, officials say

Mohammed bin Salman's trip to Cairo would be his first overseas visit since becoming crown prince last year

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to visit Egypt in his first public foreign trip since becoming crown prince last year, an Egyptian official and Cairo airport sources said on Friday.

The visit, in the coming days, comes before he travels to London on March 7 and the United States, Riyadh's closest Western ally, on March 19.

Crown Prince Mohammed purged the kingdom's economic and political elite in a crackdown on corruption last year after being elevated from the position of deputy crown prince in June.

Riyadh counts Cairo among its Arab allies. Egypt supports it in the war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and joined a trade and diplomatic boycott of Qatar last year.

A Saudi government spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Egypt visit. The Egyptian official gave no further details.

Updated: March 02, 2018, 10:03 AM