An Egyptian court on Monday rejected a government plan to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian government announced the decision to transfer the islands during a visit to the Northern African country by the Saudi King in April.
A maritime declaration accord would see Egypt cede control of Tiran and Sanafir.
The move prompted protests by Egyptians who did not approve of the transfer of the islands.
State news agency MENA reports that the court’s decision was based on “irrefutable evidence” as well as local and international practices which removed any doubt that the islands’ sovereignty belonged to Egypt alone.
Two leading human rights lawyers had challenged the demarcation accord in Egypt’s administrative court system, which deals with cases involving the government and public entities.
