Why did the Fatimids want merchants to use the Red Sea route instead of the Persian Gulf?

The Fatimid dynasty promoted the use of the Red Sea route for international trade primarily to undermine their rivals, the Sunni Abbasid powers, who controlled the alternative trade route through the Persian Gulf.1

By shifting the flow of commerce toward the Red Sea, the Fatimids sought to divert the lucrative transit trade between Asia and the Near East away from Abbasid-controlled territories. This economic strategy was supported by several key factors:1

• Political Stability: The establishment of a strong government in Egypt provided a secure environment for merchants.2
• Favorable Policies: The Fatimids encouraged trade by implementing low tariffs and maintaining a policy of noninterference in the affairs of merchants.2
• Strategic Control: The dynasty extended its rule along both shores of the Red Sea and maintained a powerful navy in the eastern Mediterranean, ensuring the route remained a viable and attractive alternative for international transit.12

This commercial expansion was an integral component of the broader Fatimid grand strategy to challenge the Abbasid order and assert their own influence across the region.1