Egypt needs around 120 billion cubic metres of water annually but can meet only 89 billion cubic metres through available resources, water reuse and virtual water imports in the form of food, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Swailem said on Sunday.
Addressing the opening of the ninth edition of Cairo Water Week (CWW 2026),Swailem warned of mounting challenges, including unilateral upstream actions on the Nile, climate change, population growth and seawater intrusion into coastal areas.
The event, held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly.
Swailem said Egypt’s annual per capita water share had fallen from around 2,000 cubic metres in the 1960s to just 473 cubic metres.
He said Egypt was implementing a new water management strategy based on 10 pillars, including desalination, wastewater treatment, improved governance and the use of artificial intelligence.
The minister highlighted efforts to modernise irrigation infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of the Ismailia, Port Said and Suez canals at a cost of around LE1 billion.
He also outlined measures to protect coastal areas from erosion and the effects of climate change.
On Nile Basin co-operation, Swailem stressed that dialogue and adherence to international law were essential to achieving shared development and resolving disputes.
He called for a review of the Nile Basin Co-operative Framework Agreement to ensure sustainable co-operation and protect the interests of all basin countries.
Egypt received just 55.5 billion cubic metres of Nile water annually, representing around one per cent of the basin’s total water resources, the minister said.
The ninth edition of Cairo Water Week features 137 sessions involving regional and international organisations, with discussions focusing on water security, climate resilience and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.
