In March 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) was adding KWD 18.5 million (61 million US dollars) for a seawater reverse osmosis plant in Eastern Port Said. A first tranche of KWD 35 million had been agreed in December 2016. Output was planned at 150,000 m³/day, with intake and brine outfall sized for up to 250,000 m³/day. Minister Sahar Nasr and KFAED director general Abdulwahab Al Bader signed; Egypt aimed to finish construction by 2019.
The report showed desalination for a new city still under construction being financed in stages by an Arab development fund, with the total commitment rising to KWD 53.5 million.