Egypt, Netherlands sign grant agreement to protect shores in Nile Delta

CAIRO – 26 February 2026: Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Peter Mollema, the Dutch Ambassador to Cairo, witnessed the signing of a grant agreement with the Dutch Invest International to finance a feasibility study for a project aimed at protecting Egyptian shores in the Nile Delta using nature-based solutions.

Sweilem stated that the grant, valued at €1.575 million, will support a pre-feasibility study for five priority coastal sites, as well as a comprehensive feasibility study for the areas of the Nile Delta most urgently in need of protection measures.

He added that the planned study will enable the Ministry to proactively plan and develop a clear, strategic vision for all areas requiring beach protection. The study will build on the findings of the “Searching for Sand Sources in the Mediterranean” research, presented during the 8th Cairo Water Week last October. Identifying sustainable sand sources for beach nourishment represents a critical step toward implementing effective and environmentally sustainable coastal protection solutions.

He noted that the signing of this agreement marks the culmination of more than 50 years of distinguished cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands in the water sector, a partnership founded on mutual trust, knowledge exchange, scientific innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainable development.