On Saturday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the thirteen‑meter fishing vessel Mohamed Abu al‑Azaim and its nine crew members, detained in the Saudi Tabuk region after inadvertently entering Saudi territorial waters on Oct. 16, had been freed and were heading back to Egypt.
According to Xinhua, diplomatic talks between Egyptian and Saudi officials led to the release, and the vessel departed Tabuk having received fuel, food and other supplies needed for a safe return.
The ministry also stated that the crew were released “following diplomatic efforts with Saudi authorities,” and that the boat was already on its way home after picking up the necessary provisions, as reported by Egyptian government outlets.
Only Xinhua mentioned that the ministry urged Egyptian fishermen and fishing boat operators to observe maritime navigation and fishing regulations and to refrain from entering neighboring countries’ territorial waters without required permits to avoid legal consequences and protect their safety.
