The Cabinet Media Centre has published an infographic outlining Egypt’s integrated efforts to address its annual water deficit of 23.20 billion cubic metres through non-conventional water sources, infrastructure modernisation and improved resource management.
The government’s strategy prioritises seawater desalination, agricultural drainage water treatment, irrigation modernisation, wastewater reuse, and the expansion of drinking water and sanitation services.
Desalination capacity is set to increase from 36 plants in 2014, producing 84,000 cubic metres daily, to a projected 129 plants in 2026, with a capacity of 1.4 million cubic metres daily.
This represents 93 additional plants and an increase of approximately 1.3 million cubic metres per day.
Major agricultural drainage treatment projects include Bahr El-Baqar, with a capacity of 5.6 million cubic metres daily; El-Hamam, with 7.5 million cubic metres daily, and El-Mahsama, with 1 million cubic metres daily.
To improve water-use efficiency, the state has rehabilitated 8,000 kilometres of irrigation canals and invested LE53.1 billion in developing, replacing and renovating major irrigation infrastructure, including the New Asyut Barrages.
Between 2014 and 2026, drinking water and sanitation projects attracted total investments of LE635.1 billion.
A total of 522 drinking water purification projects increased production capacity to 45 million cubic metres daily, raising drinking water coverage from approximately 95 per cent in 2014 to a projected 99 per cent in 2026.
Additionally, 237 wastewater treatment projects increased design capacity to 19 million cubic metres daily.
Sanitation coverage is projected to rise from approximately 50 per cent in 2014 to 70 per cent in 2026, with full nationwide coverage targeted upon completion of all three phases of the presidential Hayah Karima (Decent Life) initiative.
These integrated measures support sustainable water management, strengthen food and water security, and safeguard future supplies.
The infographic aligns with Egypt Forum 2026 themes: “Today’s Challenges and Future Guarantees” and “A Look at Today, a Vision for Tomorrow”.
