Egypt is considering adopting a Dutch-engineered sand nourishment technique to shield its vulnerable coastlines from the accelerating threat of erosion, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
“The idea is to rebuild the beach and raise its elevation so it acts as a natural buffer, absorbing wave energy and reducing erosion,” head of the Ministry Of Water Resources and Irrigation's planning sector Walid Hakiki told Al Manassa. “Climate change is raising sea levels and intensifying storms, which is worsening coastal erosion, especially along the North Coast.”
The project, pitched as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional seawalls and barriers, would see large volumes of sand dredged from the seabed or transported from inland quarries and redistributed across eroded shores to naturally reinforce them.
Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline, particularly the North Coast, has become increasingly exposed to storm surges, rising seas and saltwater intrusion that threaten land, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
The Netherlands, whose low-lying geography has made it a global leader in coastal management, is partnering with Egypt on the project through joint studies and capacity-building efforts.
These include detailed seabed mapping to identify optimal sand sources and training Egyptian engineers in the planning, implementation and long-term upkeep of nourishment systems.
“Compared to hard engineering solutions like concrete barriers, sand nourishment is more adaptive and harmonious with nature,” Hakiki said. “But it requires technical expertise to do it right.”
The ministry plans to assess the technique’s feasibility by targeting erosion “hotspots” along the North Coast after determining the availability and quality of offshore sand deposits.
Parallel to this initiative, Egypt is enhancing its coastal monitoring infrastructure, building observation stations along the Mediterranean to track sea-level changes, wave patterns and wind shifts in real time.
The government is also continuing conventional shoreline defense projects, such as the 2.6-kilometer protective barrier in Alexandria, works near the naval compound in Ras El Bar, and reinforcements at Matrouh’s Al-Abyad beach.
Four additional projects are in the pipeline, targeting erosion-prone sites near western Edku Port in Beheira, and locations in Kafr El Sheikh and Damietta governorates, including eastern Ezbet El-Borg.
