Water is frequently taken for granted without adequate planning until shortages begin to occur. Egypt has not faced shortages since the construction of the Aswan High Dam but water use projections indicate that shortages will begin to occur in the near future. The recent African drought and current water levels in Lake Nassar indicate that the transition from water abundance to water shortages is imminent. Egypt has some time to plan for the efficient utilization and allocation of this resource and its future prosperity is dependent upon how well it meets this challenge. This Irrigation Briefing Paper has been prepared to provide an overview for those interested in understanding Egypt's water resources and its importance in sustaining food and fiber production to meet the demand of a growing population. Water inflow and use trends and the future water requirements are discussed. The Paper summarizes the USAID irrigation program in Egypt, looks at the status of other major donor activities in Egypt, defines some of the water related problems and water policy issues, and projects additional activities in irrigation management that could benefit Egypt.