Rethinking the future of coastal cities

Amid profound transformation, the ancient city of Alexandria is confronting an existential threat: rising sea levels.
According to the 2022 IPCC report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), by the year 2100, sea levels could rise by up to one metre (between 0.61 and 1.10 m under the RCP8.5 scenario). This rise could submerge a third of the Nile Delta’s ultra-fertile land and flood historic cities such as Alexandria.
Each year, Alexandria is sinking by approximately three millimetres, while the sea level is rising at a similar rate due to global warming and the melting of polar ice sheets.

Alongside the Metropolitan Seminar, a dedicated workshop “Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Cities” brought together a network of experts in urban climate resilience. This initiative forms part of AViTeM’s contribution to building a Mediterranean response in preparation for UNOC 3, the Third United Nations Ocean Conference.

Alexandria, a metropolis facing multiple challenges

Today, Alexandria is Egypt’s second-largest city, home to nearly six million people within an area of 275 km. Its economic and demographic weight gives rise to a number of challenges: rapid urban expansion, mobility management, environmental risks, and the preservation of valuable heritage, among others.

Alexandria, a legendary port city

As a true crossroads between Africa, Asia and Europe, Alexandria has long stood out for its cosmopolitan spirit and cultural universality. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, between Lake Mariout and the Mediterranean Sea in the Nile Delta, it became one of the earliest global cities under the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Alexandria, a palimpsest city

Alexandria bears the marks of a rich and multicultural past shaped by its political and religious history. Its precious architectural and urban heritage is now under threat from successive waves of development initiated in the second half of the 20th century. Pilot projects jointly led by public authorities and private actors – such as the pedestrianisation of Naby Daniel Street – reflect a growing commitment to preserving the city’s architectural and cultural identity.

Alexandria, a polycentric metropolis

Bordered by the Mediterranean to the north and Lake Mariout to the south, Alexandria has no choice but to expand from east to west. Rapid urbanisation, driven by rising demographic pressure, has led to the emergence of new urban centres over recent decades, from Borg El Arab in the west to Abu Qir in the east.
This evolving polycentricity brings with it major challenges: managing informal housing, upgrading infrastructure, ensuring access to essential public services (such as schools and hospitals), and rethinking mobility systems.

A Mediterranean partnership