Aeolianite (cemented dune sand) is commonly found along coastlines in South Africa, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Australia. Despite their widespread distribution, little is known about how aeolianite cliffs develop and the processes associated with their dynamics. This has implications for coastal sediment supply, responses to extreme events such as coastal storms, and the resilience of these rocky coastlines to climate change. This study examines the processes and patterns of aeolianite cliff development along the South African coast, where aeolianite has formed from the Middle Pleistocene onwards and where it outcrops along the contemporary coastline with cliffs up to 30 m high. Through field observations, measurements and mapping, the most significant processes associated with cliff development are identified. Unlike landslides and rockfalls that dominate rocky cliff development in other lithologies, aeolianite cliffs are mainly affected by small-scale physical, chemical and biological weathering processes that contribute to the granular disintegration of the cliff face. This is controlled by the detailed properties of aeolian units, such as bed thickness and bedding structures, the degree of cementation, and the presence of rhizoliths and case-hardened surfaces. Progressive mass loss from weaker aeolian units can then lead to structural collapse of the cliff face or when undercut by waves. These different weathering and erosion processes of aeolianite cliff development are strongly climatically controlled, suggesting that they are sensitive to any changes in external climatic conditions.