Work

National development in post-revolutionary Egypt: sustainability through water megaprojects?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Water management in Egypt faces an intricate challenge because the country heavily depends on its natural water ecosystem. Novel adaptation and mitigation measures are urgently needed, as competition for water has increased dramatically among stakeholders. The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) announced the National Water Resource Plan (NWRP) 2017–2037 in December 2017. It aims to establish several novel water megaprojects to close the widening water demand gap. We examined four different water megaprojects in Egypt and their contribution to the water sector’s sustainability transition. Large-scale infrastructure transitions imply a key role for the state, yet we found that achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability through water megaprojects is not guaranteed in Egypt. Further research is needed on how transitions in latecomer water systems occur through megaprojects and on how stakeholder participation and collaboration can be enhanced.

Source: Frontiers in Water

DOI: 10.3389/frwa.2026.1793557

Authors: Ann-Katrin Ellermann, Johannes Hamhaber, Mohammad Al-Saidi

Institutions: TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation

Language: English

Topic: Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,418