Cairo: Egypt Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has announced a series of measures to strengthen groundwater management and enhance flood protection in South Sinai as part of efforts to safeguard water resources and support sustainable development.
The decisions were taken during a meeting between Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam and South Sinai Governor Ismail Kamal the ministry said in a statement.
The two sides agreed to intensify monitoring of groundwater extraction, continue surveys to identify unlicensed wells and require their owners to obtain legal permits in accordance with national regulations.
Sewilam stressed that deep groundwater aquifers, many of which are non-renewable, must be managed based on scientific principles to prevent overexploitation. Technical studies of groundwater resources in Abu Zenima, Saint Catherine, El Naqb, Nuweiba, Taba and the El Qa’a Plain were reviewed during the meeting.
Flood risk management was also a key focus. According to the ministry 508 flood protection structures have been completed across South Sinai at a total cost of about EGP 3.2 billion (approximately US$65 million) to improve the governorate’s resilience against flash floods.
Officials also reviewed plans for additional flood protection projects in the Wadi Feiran area and discussed the removal of accumulated sediment from the Salaf Dam at the entrance to Wadi Salaf to improve its operational efficiency.
The meeting further examined ongoing coastal development activities in South Sinai, with emphasis on compliance with shoreline setback regulations and coastal licensing requirements, particularly in the tourist city of Dahab.
A joint committee comprising the Shore Protection Authority, South Sinai Governorate and the Ministry of Environment will oversee the technical and legal aspects of coastal development projects. The Shore Protection Authority will also assess the status of beachfront cafés along Dahab’s promenade to ensure compliance with coastal protection regulations while maintaining the area’s tourism appeal.
The ministry said the measures form part of Egypt’s broader strategy to improve water resource management, protect vulnerable coastal areas and strengthen climate resilience in South Sinai.