Egypt has secured the release of nine Egyptian fishermen whose boat was detained in Saudi Arabia after accidentally entering the kingdom's territorial waters, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The fishing vessel, Mohamed Abu al-Azaim, was detained on 16 October in the Tabuk region along Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast after entering Saudi territorial waters without the required authorisation. The ministry confirmed that the vessel has now departed Tabuk with all nine Egyptian crew members on board and is heading back to Egypt.

The boat was supplied with fuel, food and other necessary provisions to ensure the crew's safe return, the ministry said. The release followed diplomatic efforts and cooperation with Saudi authorities, as part of Egypt's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.

Egypt's consulate in Jeddah had been working on the case since the detention. On 26 October, the Foreign Ministry announced that the consulate had contacted Saudi coast guard and port authorities to secure the vessel's release, and a consulate representative visited the nine sailors aboard the boat to check on their condition and confirm they were receiving necessary care.

The fishermen spent 22 days in detention before the release was announced on Saturday, 7 November. The ministry's statement did not say whether any fines were imposed on the boat's owner or the sailors.

The Foreign Ministry urged fishermen not to cross into the territorial waters of neighbouring countries without permits, warning that doing so could lead to legal consequences. The ministry said it would continue to follow up on the welfare of Egyptians working abroad and intervene with host authorities where needed.

[Source: afronews.net](https://afronews.net/egypt-secures-release-of-fishing-boat-nine-sailors-from-saudi-arabia/) | [Source: byteseu.com](https://www.byteseu.com/2504918/)