How did Fatimid rule encourage trade through the Red Sea?

The Fatimid dynasty actively promoted Red Sea trade as part of a strategic economic policy designed to shift international transit routes away from the Persian Gulf, which was controlled by their Sunni Abbasid rivals.1

To facilitate this growth, the Fatimids implemented several key measures:

• Territorial Expansion: They extended their rule down both shores of the Red Sea and established supremacy in Yemen, securing the necessary maritime corridors.1
• Political Stability and Security: By establishing a strong central government in Egypt and maintaining a powerful navy in the eastern Mediterranean, they provided the security essential for international commerce.2
• Favorable Economic Policies: The dynasty encouraged merchants by maintaining a low tariff policy and practicing noninterference in the business affairs of traders operating within their borders.2

These efforts successfully restored Egypt as a major international entrepôt, allowing it to serve as a vital link for trade between Asia and the Near East.12