According to the SUNA news agency, Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Invictus Investment will build and manage the new port of Abu Amama, about 200 kilometers (about 124 miles) north of Sudan's only other port, Port Sudan.

The announcement comes a week after Sudan's ruling military generals signed a "framework agreement'' with the country's main pro-democracy group, among other political forces, which could spur a new civilian government and military removed from power.

The UAE, along with the United States, The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia helped broker last week's framework deal after facilitating months of cross-party talks.

But the framework agreement offers only a rough outline of how the country expects to resume its road to democracy and has been rejected by several major political forces. Further talks for a second more inclusive deal are expected soon.

The port of Abu Amama will include an international airport, a network of internal roads and a power station, among other features, said Sudanese Finance Minister Gibreel Ibrahim, who was at the signing.

The site will be a "special economic zone'' for trade and business between the Sudanese government and the two UAE businesses. No time frame for Abu Amama's construction was provided.

Sudan has been plunged into turmoil fater a military takeover in October 2021 upended the country's democratic transition following three decades of autocratic rule by Omar al-Bashir.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online