Tiran Island – History, Geography, and Strategic Importance in the Red Sea

Tiran Island (Arabic: جزيرة تيران Jazīrat Tīrān) is a scenic and historically significant island located at the entrance of the Strait of Tiran, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aqaba. Covering around 80 square kilometers, the island lies between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast. Today, Tiran officially belongs to Saudi Arabia, although it was under Egyptian administration until 2017, when sovereignty was formally transferred following a parliamentary agreement in Egypt and approval by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Geography and Environment

Tiran Island forms the narrowest point of the Strait of Tiran, a vital maritime passage leading to the ports of Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel). Its location has made it one of the most strategic waterways in the Middle East.

The island was once part of the Ras Muhammad National Park and is surrounded by pristine coral reefs, rich marine life, and crystal-clear waters—making it a hidden paradise for divers and snorkelers. BirdLife International has also classified it as an Important Bird Area (IBA) thanks to breeding colonies of white-eyed gulls and other seabirds.

Although Tiran has no civilian population, military personnel and international observers from the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) have been stationed there.

Historical Background
Ancient Roots – Iotabe

Some historians identify Tiran with the ancient island of Iotabe, a Byzantine toll station for ships trading between the Mediterranean, India, and East Africa. Records show it was contested in the 5th and 6th centuries, with periods of Jewish self-governance before Byzantine control was re-established.

Modern History and Strategic Role

In the 20th century, Tiran’s location became central to regional politics:

1948–1967: Egypt controlled the island and occasionally restricted Israeli shipping through the straits, which were Israel’s only access route to the Red Sea. The closure of the straits in May 1967 was one of the triggers of the Six-Day War.

1967–1982: Israel occupied Tiran after the war, but the island was returned to Egypt under the 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty, which guaranteed freedom of navigation through the straits.

World War II & Cold War era: Egyptian and later multinational forces used the island to monitor shipping lanes and protect the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Sovereignty Dispute and Transfer

For decades, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia asserted historical claims over Tiran and its neighboring island, Sanafir. In 2016, Egypt officially announced the transfer of sovereignty to Saudi Arabia, sparking public debate and legal challenges inside Egypt. Despite temporary court rulings against the move, Egypt’s parliament approved the transfer in June 2017, and President el-Sisi ratified it shortly after.

In 2022, Israel and the United States also endorsed the arrangement, ensuring that Saudi Arabia would continue to honor the navigation guarantees established in the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.

Tiran Island Today

While Tiran Island is not permanently inhabited, it remains a place of natural beauty, historical importance, and geopolitical relevance. Its coral reefs attract divers from around the world, while its position at the gateway of the Gulf of Aqaba makes it a continuing focal point of regional diplomacy and maritime security.