The Red Sea borders the Sahara’s eastern side along Egypt and Sudan.
It is a long, narrow seawater basin between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. On the African side, the desert reaches the coast through Egypt and Sudan, while the sea’s northern branches include the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.
The Red Sea is distinct from the Mediterranean, which borders the Sahara farther north. The Nile Delta and Egypt’s Mediterranean coast form a different geographic zone from the Red Sea coast.
The sea is also a major shipping route linking the Suez Canal with the Indian Ocean. Its warm waters and coral reefs contrast sharply with the arid landscapes immediately inland.