How long did it take to build the Suez Canal?

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Cargo ships travel along the wide Suez Canal in Egypt, bordered by sandy desert on one side and greenery on the other. — Suez Canal Ships in the Suez Canal in Egypt. One of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

The construction of the Suez Canal took 10 years to complete. While the project was originally envisioned to take six years, the timeline was extended due to various challenges, including climatic difficulties, a cholera epidemic in 1865, and early labor issues.1

Work on the canal began in 1859 under the direction of Ferdinand de Lesseps and the Suez Canal Company. The waterway was finished in August 1869 and officially opened on November 17, 1869.1