u/nob0dyinparticular

I'm having a great run as Najd and would like to get the Suez Canal built as I have a strong navy in the Indian Ocean but want easy access to the Mediterranean. Now I'm pretty sure I can use the Mamluks l to spawn it but would like to hear from someone with experience on how to do it right. I have not done this before.

As all of the Mamluks are a desired conquest for me, I would first want them to be completely gone. This I can get done in 2 wars. Then I would "prep" the 5 provinces they should need for the missions: Alexandria, Rashid, Dumyat, Sharqiya and Suez. I would "free" the Mamluks through "return province" in those 5 provinces so they can pop their missions.

I'm wondering if they would spawn with any inflation which could potentially mess up the event that spawns the Suez Canal. Then I would consider gifting them some cash.

Anything I should consider?

After one more war with the Mamluks I will be able to 1. Form Arabia and 2. gain the Caliphate T1 reform. I will also soon be able to take the last reform for a tribal government and thus become a theocracy. I am considering it for some of the early reforms like Commercial Mission (+1 Merchant, +10% Global trade power) and Education of the Court (-15% Advisor cost).

I'm wondering which Polynesian tag(s) are most worthwhile and viable wrt national ideas, starting position and missions to create a Pacific colonial empire.