Arab Republic of Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge to Southwest Asia.
Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. Due to its geographical location, the country commands a role of major power in Africa, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and the Islamic world.
The economy of Egypt is one of the most developed and diversified in the Middle East, with sectors such as tourism, agriculture, industry and services at almost equal production levels.
Egypt has an advanced energy industry based on oil, natural gas, and hydropower. Oil and gas are produced in the western desert regions, the Gulf of Suez, the Nile Delta and the Mediterranean.
In addition to its role as an oil and gas exporter, Egypt has strategic importance because of its operation of the Suez Canal and Sumed (Suez-Mediterranean) Pipeline. These two routes are notable for the export of oil from the Persian Gulf and the export of LNG from the Suez Canal.