In April 2019, Middle East Confidential reported that Egypt planned to spend around $50 billion over 20 years on drinking water for a population of 97 million. Water Minister Mohamed Abdel Aty presented the plan at the Beirut Water Week, within Egypt's National Water Plan 2017-2037. Some of the money was earmarked for desalination, mainly to serve new real estate developments. The planned city of New Mansoura was to get a seawater desalination plant worth $75 million.
The report showed Egypt treating desalination as one building block of its long-term water planning, alongside cooperation with the other Nile Basin states. New cities and real estate projects were the main focus.
Source: Middle East Confidential