Intessar al-Sisi, wife of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, appeared next to Jehan Sadat, wife of late President Sadat, at the opening ceremony of the New Suez Canal.
Delegations attending the ceremony include presidents, kings and princes, in addition to public figures from various countries around the world.
Sisi had arrived in military uniform on Thursday afternoon aboard the Al-Mahrousa yacht.
Celebrations extend to all parts of the country.
The Egyptian government argues the new canal will have a positive impact on economic and social development, though experts have questioned the official estimates of the revenue the project would produce.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
