Aboard the 150-year-old Al-Mahrousa yacht and in full military regalia, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sissi sailed down the new Suez canal to signal the start of inaugural celebrations of the waterway on 6 August. Sissi later changed into a suit, but the military uniform was a nod to the Armed Forces for helping dig the canal in one year. As the once royal vessel made its way to the main pavilion carrying Sissi and foreign dignitaries, helicopters hovered in the sky flying the flags of Egypt and various Armed Forces branches. A group wearing Pharaonic customs standing on the bank trumpeted an Ancient Egyptian salute, and hundreds of attendees, housed under massive air-conditioned tents, exploded in applause. Under a scorching sun and high humidity, celebrations commenced in the afternoon. Women ululated, children sang national songs, crowds chanted ‘Long Live Egypt' and waved the Egyptian flag, cargo ships sailing through the new Suez Canal blew their horns, fireworks in the colours of the Egyptian flag lit up the sky, and fighter jets flew overhead – including Rafales from France and F16s from the US. The ceremony turned out to be everything it was purported to be. “In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the blessings of God, I, Abdel-Fattah Al-Sissi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, officially open the new Suez Canal,” were the closing words of the president's brief speech.Before that, Sissi talked about the enormity and significance of the new waterway, but also stressed the tall tasks still ahead for Egypt. Among these is its battle against terrorism which also serves all of humanity. “Egypt will always remain the meeting point that brings East and West together, a role it has always served throughout its history,” said Sissi. He thanked everyone who participated in this mega endeavour, and saluted the Egyptian people for their patriotism by heeding the call to raise $8.4 billion in just eight days to fund construction. He also remembered the fallenin Egypt's war on terrorism. “We dedicate this incredible achievement to the souls of Egypt's martyrs,” said Sissi. In his speech, Admiral Mohab Mamish, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), praised Egyptians for making history and the unprecedented cooperation between military and civilians to complete the feat in one year instead of three. “The new Suez Canal is an initial step towards Egypt's comprehensive development, particularly in the Suez Canal Axis development project,” said Mamish. Sissi said the impact of opening the new Suez canal on maritime traffic goes beyond political and economic goals. Nonetheless, work will continue to develop the region around the canal, and most notably East Port Said. The development of the canal area includes establishing an international economic zone with several ports, new cities, logistical and trading hubs that will increase commerce between Egypt and the world. Sissi urged for the momentum and enthusiasm to continue. “This is the first step of one thousand steps,” he repeated. Work will begin immediately to expand and develop East Port Said harbour and construct an industrial around it. In addition, the area's infrastructure will be upgraded and linked to other projects underway. Egypt also has other big plans not related to the Suez Canal. These include a sprawling national road network, reclaiming one million feddans and building a number of new cities to accommodate population growth. Celebrations were attended by many dignitaries from around the world, including the monarchs, presidents and heads of government of Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan, France, Russia, Ethiopia, Angola, Lesotho, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, China, Switzerland and North Korea. Other symbolic figures in attendance were Abdel-Hakim Abdel-Nasser, son of late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser who nationalised the Suez Canal in 1956, and Gihan Al-Sadat, wife of late President Anwar Al-Sadat. Abdel-Nasser believes the new project will reconnect what was economically and politically severed 40 years ago, and “will restore Egypt's wealth and help it regain its former prominence among world countries.” “I thank the president for fulfilling his promise,” Abdel-Nasser told Al-Ahram Weekly. “My children, my grandchildren and I congratulate the president for this great project.”
