Egyptians Celebrate Opening of New Suez Canal

Egypt celebrated the completion of the $8 billion New Suez Canal project on Thursday, August 6, marking the occasion with fanfare at an opening ceremony in the canal city of Ismailia. Dressed in full military regalia, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sailed on a historic yacht up the canal to the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by foreign dignitaries.

Sisi had ordered the project to be completed in one year instead of three hoping that the major extension to the canal will kick-start an economic recovery.

This video was filmed by a PR senior account manager at Ogilvy, the marketing company that ran the promotions and advertising campaign for the Suez Canal extension. It shows Egyptians standing alongside military vehicles and waving the national flag in Ismailia. Credit: Instagram/Saad Abu Touq