Suez Canal Egypt

Ancient efforts to connect the seas

The modern canal traces its roots to millennia of human ambition. Pharaohs, Persian kings, and Islamic commanders all attempted to link the Nile and Red Sea. Each civilization left traces of their engineering efforts, reflecting a long-standing desire to facilitate trade and communication between Africa and Asia.

Early Nile to Red Sea canals

Egypt witnessed the earliest documented attempts with Pharaoh Senusret III (circa 1870–1831 BCE) and possibly Ramses I (around 2000 BCE). The “Canal of the Pharaohs” allowed small boats to traverse between the Nile and Red Sea, though upstream navigation required teams of horses or camels. Pharaoh Necho II (610–595 BCE) later attempted to expand this route, but technical and environmental challenges, noted by Aristotle, hindered completion.

Persian and Roman reconstructions

Persian King Darius I (522–486 BCE) succeeded where Egyptian rulers had failed, constructing a functional canal around 510 BCE, with monuments celebrating the achievement. Ptolemy II Philadelphus later restored the waterway with technical innovations to prevent saltwater intrusion. Roman Emperor Trajan (98–115 AD) further reconstructed the canal, relocating the Nile entrance near modern Old Cairo and fortifying the route.

Islamic and medieval canal attempts

Following the Arab conquest in 641 AD, Commander Amr ibn al-As reopened the silted canal, known as the “Amir El-Mo'menin Canal,” connecting with the Nile near present-day Sayyida Zaynab. It served trade and communication for over a century but was closed in 767 AD by Caliph al-Mansur for strategic reasons. Over time, the canal fell into desert sands until rediscovered by Napoleon’s scholars in the late 18th century.
 

The making of the modern Suez Canal

Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1798 expedition laid the groundwork for a modern canal, inspiring future engineers and establishing Egypt’s Institut d’Egypte. French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps successfully convinced Egypt’s ruler Mohammad Saeed in 1854 to authorize the construction of a direct canal. The project officially began in 1859 under the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez, a joint French-Egyptian venture.

Who built the Suez Canal and why

The canal arose from a combination of French vision, Egyptian resources, and international investment. It offered European merchants a direct maritime link to Asia, bypassing Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. De Lesseps, skilled in diplomacy rather than engineering, organized funding, recruited workers, and oversaw construction, turning a decades-old dream into reality.

The role of Ferdinand de Lesseps

De Lesseps, born in 1805, lacked technical expertise but excelled in persuasion and networking. Leveraging his relationship with Said Pasha and inspiration from Napoleon’s aborted plans, he secured investment and labor for the canal project, culminating in its successful completion despite immense challenges.

Construction timeline: 1859–1869

Construction began at Port Said on April 25, 1859. Initial work relied on manual labor, leading to extreme hardships: disease, malnutrition, and exhaustion claimed around 120,000 lives among the million workers employed. European laborers and steam-powered dredgers later accelerated progress. Lake Timsah received its first Mediterranean waters in 1862, and the canal finally connected the two seas on August 18, 1869.

Engineering challenges and solutions

Labor unrest and cholera outbreaks delayed the project by four years. Contractors Borel and Lavalley revolutionized excavation with purpose-built dredgers suited to the isthmus’s unique geological challenges, enabling successful completion.

Opening ceremony and early operations

On November 17, 1869, the canal was inaugurated with a grand maritime procession attended by French Empress Eugenie and European dignitaries. The canal, carved from 74 million cubic meters of earth, measured 8 meters deep and 22 meters at the bottom, expanding to 61–91 meters at the surface. The project cost 433 million francs, double the original estimate.
 

Strategic and political turning points

The canal’s strategic value made it a focus of international power struggles.

British acquisition and control

In 1875, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli purchased 44% of the canal shares from Khedive Ismail, ensuring British influence while France retained 56%. In 1882, Britain occupied Egypt following the Urabi Revolt, maintaining canal control through the mid-20th century.

Nationalization by Egypt in 1956

On July 26, 1956, President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the canal’s nationalization to finance the Aswan High Dam, triggering the Suez Crisis.

The Suez Crisis and international response

Britain, France, and Israel launched a military intervention on October 29, 1956, but international pressure, especially from the U.S. and the USSR, forced a ceasefire by November 6.

Impact of Arab-Israeli conflicts

During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israeli forces occupied the Sinai Peninsula, halting canal operations for eight years.

UN peacekeeping and reopening in 1975

President Anwar Sadat announced the canal’s reopening for June 5, 1975. UN peacekeeping forces ensured stability along the canal, allowing normal shipping to resume.
 

Modern developments and global role

Recent decades have seen engineering advances and expansions, preserving the canal’s vital role in global trade.

2015 expansion and New Suez Canal

Egypt completed a £5.2 billion expansion in 2015, adding 35 kilometers of new channels and deepening 35 kilometers of existing waterway. Transit times were cut from 18 to 11 hours, and waiting periods reduced from 8–11 hours to three hours, boosting revenue and efficiency.

2021 Ever Given blockage and response

In March 2021, the container ship Ever Given blocked the canal for six days, halting 369 ships and causing losses of £7.62 billion per day. Egypt responded by planning further widening projects.

Suez Canal Economic Zone

Established in 2015, SCZONE spans 461 square kilometers, with industrial zones, ports, and supporting infrastructure, promoting economic growth along the canal.

Ongoing upgrades and future plans

By 2024, a 10-kilometer extension expanded two-way traffic to 82 kilometers, and the Suez Canal Container Terminal added 2.2 million TEUs in annual capacity, strengthening the canal’s global position.
Conclusion

The Suez Canal, at the crossroads of continents and history, has reshaped maritime trade for over 150 years. From ancient pharaonic attempts to modern container ships, it demonstrates human ingenuity, vision, and determination. It continues to serve as a critical artery for global commerce, reflecting centuries of ambition, conflict, and innovation.