In December 2016, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development had confirmed a KWD 35 million (US$ 115 million) loan to Egypt for a 150,000 m³/day seawater reverse osmosis plant. It would serve Eastern Port Said, a new city under construction, with drinking and industrial water. Intake and brine outfall were sized for 250,000 m³/day. Construction was set to start in 2017 and finish in 2019. The loan, over 25 years with five years' grace, also covered a 700 km network.
The report showed that Egypt planned to supply a new coastal city through seawater desalination, using Gulf development loans and building in reserve capacity for expansion.