yes that might be a shorter path than overland. it would be my guess that in time deeper than roman, egyptian cash and goods were attractive to people in distant lands. Without going full Thor Heyerdal "Ra" they would have been capable of sailing coastal routes round if not a more direct route across the Arabian Seas
But it's equally likely they traded indirectly with any of the coastal economies around the Gulf, and Horn of Africa.
But it's equally likely they traded indirectly with any of the coastal economies around the Gulf, and Horn of Africa.