Egypt is poised to launch its sprawling new museum complex on Saturday, marking the culmination of two decades of planning and construction. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located just a mile from the iconic Giza Pyramids, is billed as the largest archaeological facility in the world dedicated solely to one civilization.
Covering an area of some 470,000 square metres, the facility was first announced in 1992, but actual construction did not begin until 2005. With a price tag of approximately US $1 billion, it represents a major investment in Egypt’s cultural and tourism infrastructure.
When fully opened, the museum will house more than 50,000 artefacts. Among the most notable exhibits are an 83-tonne, 3,200-year-old colossus of Ramesses II and a 4,500-year-old boat belonging to the pharaoh Khufu—credited with building the largest Giza pyramid. The permanent exhibition space alone occupies 24,000 sq metres, and is complemented by a children’s museum, educational and conference facilities, a large conservation centre and a commercial area.
The museum’s twelve main galleries, which opened in a “soft launch” last year, span epochs from pre-history through to the Roman era, and artefacts from the century-old Egyptian Museum in Cairo, as well as newly excavated items from sites such as the Saqqara Necropolis, have been transferred to the new complex. The museum’s CEO, Ahmed Ghoneim, told reporters that the galleries employ advanced technology and multimedia, including mixed-reality displays, intended to speak to younger generations. “We’re using the language that Gen Z uses,” he said.
The grand opening has been repeatedly delayed, most recently by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, including the Gaza crisis, with world leaders and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi expected to attend the ceremony. The museum connects to the Giza pyramids via a new walkway, and prior to its opening fireworks were reportedly tested near the pyramids to mark the occasion.
Beyond its cultural significance, the project forms part of a broader national infrastructure push, including a metro system under construction and the new airport inaugurated in 2020. With the tourism industry having taken a hit during the 2011 Arab Spring and the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum is seen as a strategic effort to boost visitor numbers and foreign currency inflows. Egypt recorded a record 15.7 million tourists in 2024 and aims to double that by 2032.
The museum is projected to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors per day, according to Hassan Allam Holding CEO Hassan Allam, which manages the facility. “The world has been waiting… everyone’s excited,” he said. However, the opening is occurring amid questions about the security and protection of Egypt’s antiquities: two artefacts were recently stolen, including a 3,000-year-old golden pharaoh’s bracelet from a conservation lab in Cairo, and archaeological site looting remains a concern since 2011.
The Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening is thus a landmark moment for Egypt’s heritage sector — offering a mix of ancient wonders and modern presentation, aimed at reinvigorating tourism and reclaiming a leading role in the global cultural story.
