Alkaliphiles are unique microorganisms, with great potential for microbiological and biotechnological exploitation for the environmental applications. In the present study, two bacterial strains were isolated from two different sites in Egypt. The first is Bani Salama Lake at Wadi El-Natrun characterized by  pH about 11.5 and high salinity level. The second is Abu Qir Bay, one of the most highly polluted areas in Alexandria surrounded by many factories discharging alkaline waste. Seventy-nine alkaliphilic strains were isolated (33 from Bani Salama lake and 46 marine strains from Abu Qir Bay). The strains were screened for the production of six extracellular degradative enzymes namely mannanase, pectinase, amylase, xylanase, protease and cellulase. The majority of isolates possessed significant enzyme activities. Based on genotypic and phenotypic characterization, the two potent strains were classified as Bacillus cereus N1 and Bacillus licheniformis A26. The study was extended to investigate the efficiency of the two strains to remove metal cations of copper, cobalt and lead from solutions at pH range 8-9. Cells of B.cereus N1 were able to absorb cobalt and lead at 0.4 mM, absorbing about 90.5 % and 92%, respectively, while B. licheniformis A26 was able to absorb copper and cobalt at metal concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 mM, sequestering 24.5%, 64% for copper and 23%, 89% for cobalt, respectively. Moreover, B.cereus N1 showed antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans with inhibitory zones of 4 and 15 mm, respectively. Whereas, B.licheniformis A26 showed antagonistic activity against Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with inhibitory zones of 4, 4 and 10 mm, respectively.