Saudi Arabia and Egypt are set to revive plans to build an estimated $4bn causeway between the two countries.

The Saudi-Egyptian Business Council will meet on 13 August in Jeddah to discuss the project. The 32-kilometre bridge is planned to stretch over the Straits of Tiran from Ras Humaid in Tabuk, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia, to Ras Nasrani, which is close to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Riyadh and Cairo signed an initial agreement to develop the scheme as far back as 1988.

Members of the business council have put forward proposals suggesting studies be carried out for the causeway project, in particular its cost and feasibility.

The project could be financed from investment funds in the Gulf or possibly, the private sector.