Water and sediments samples were collected from the Egyptian coasts of the GuIfs of Suez and Aqaba and Red Sea proper during June 1998. The results show that: The average concentration of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Fe and Mn in the Gulf of Suez were 5.60, 15.46, 1.36, 0.662, 0.628, 4.65, 0.568, 16.46 and 5.81 g/1 in water and 9.34, 38.28, 13.75, 3.62, 12.25, 19.32, 16.21, 1024.7 and 35.26 g/g in sediments, respectively. The corresponding average
concentrations in the Gulf of Aqaba were 2.98, 6.77, 0.492, 0.223, 0.31, 2.5 1, 0.246, 10.94 and 3.07 g/l in water and 3.91, 17.81,5.87, 1.69,4.92,6.67,6.28, 1391.8 and 40.47 g/g in sediments. In the Red Sea proper, the average concentrations of the heavy metals were 3.66, 11.04, 0.902, 0.29, 0.549, 3.29, 0.369, 14.15 and 4.30 g/l in water
and 6.60, 29.97, 11.24, 3.06, 8.32, 13.75, 13.52, 1386.1 and 44.91 g/g in sediments. In comparison with the Aqaba Gulf and Red Sea proper, heavy metals concentrations in the Gulf of Suez particularly at the northern part (Suez Bay) were relatively high. These high concentrations may be attributed to the sewage disposal from the city
of Suez and ships awaiting transit through the Suez Canal, in addition to waste effluents from the industrial complex south of Suez, which includes oil refineries, fertilizer company and power stations.