The royal visit, which began on 16 September, included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, José Manuel Albares. Behind closed doors, Al-Sisi and King Felipe discussed trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges, while also pledging to expand cooperation in education and antiquities. The Al-Ittihadiya Palace visit concluded with an exchange of state honors between the presidential couple and the Spanish royals, followed by a luncheon at the palace. On Thursday evening on 18 September, the two nations deepened their cultural bonds with a visit to Luxor. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were greeted in Luxor by the governor and the minister of tourism and antiquities in what local officials described as a historic occasion, as it is the first visit by a Spanish monarch since Felipe assumed the throne in 2014.