Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (front R) along with his wife Entissar Amer wait to welcome China's President Xi Jinping (top L) and his wife Peng Liyuan upon their arrival at the Cairo International Airport on September 1, 2026. President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on September 1, making a rare trip to the Middle East as both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)