Analysis of marine sediments of the studied localities provides investigators with data to characterise the composition of these sediments allowing for the identification of particular pollution sources. A study of texture, geochemistry, X-ray diffraction and natural radionuclide content of shallow marine sediments from Quseir harbour, Safaga harbour and El-Esh area in the Red Sea coast of Egypt was conducted for the purpose of assessing the possible influence of human activities on the composition of the sediments. The activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were measured by using γ-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in all areas studied were found to be 71±6, 66±5 and 92±7 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, 83±5, 71±7 and 162±23 Bq kg(-1) for (232)Th and 513±10, 493±20 and 681±28 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K, respectively. The results of the study presented were compared with corresponding results obtained in other coastal and aquatic environments in the Red Sea.