On the occasion of the New Suez Canal inauguration, Egypt has designated Thursday August 6 as an official holiday for public sector employees, cabinet spokesperson Houssam al-Qawish said in a statement Wednesday.
“The decision has been taken so that public sector employees across the country are able to celebrate and follow the event,” according to the statement.
Several heads of states and governments are set to attend the Thursday opening ceremony of Egypt’s new 72km-long canal which will take place in the Suez Canal governorate of Ismailia. Digging of the new canal, which aims to facilitate the maritime navigation in the waterway, has taken only one year.
The day will be also a bank holiday.
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All Museums and archeological sites across Egypt will operate free of charges for Egyptians Thursday in celebration of the new canal inauguration, Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources said that all ministry-affiliated public gardens and museums are open for free Thursday.
Transport Ministry also said it will operate an air-conditioned train from Cairo through the Delta governorates with nominal prices, ministry’s spokesperson Ayman al-Sherei told Youm7 Wednesday.
New Suez canal - YOUM7
New Suez canal – YOUM7
“Ticket of first class train will be discounted from 70 EGP ($9) to 20 EGP, while the price of other train tickets will decrease from 50 to10 EGP, he added, noting that this train operates only in the national occasions.
The train will depart Thursdays from Cairo railway station at 7:20 a.m. Cairo local time to the Delta governorates and it to return at 7:15 p.m.
Other public trains and Cairo metro will operate free of charge from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Transport Minister Hani Dahy said Friday.
