In January 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) had pledged Egypt a US$ 200 million loan for that year. The money was meant for well drilling and desalination projects in Sinai. According to AFESD representative Mohamed Al-Iriani, interest was cut from 3% to 1%, with a 20-year term and five years' grace. The sum was the initial part of a three-year package worth US$ 900 million.
The report showed how Arab development funds co-financed water projects in Egypt on concessional terms, with desalination forming only one part of the package alongside wells.