Grand Egyptian Museum: Six things to look forward to when doors open
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Zawya
7 days ago
- Zawya
Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on November 1
Egypt - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Wednesday that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has approved 1 November as the official date for the complete opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Speaking at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, held at its headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Madbouly instructed all relevant ministries and authorities to finalise preparations to ensure the museum and its surrounding area are fully ready. He stressed that the opening must be presented in a manner befitting its cultural and historical significance. The premier said preparations are underway to make the event exceptional, adding another milestone to Egypt's record of landmark national occasions. The inauguration is expected to draw distinguished international guests and feature a series of accompanying cultural events. Located near the Giza Pyramids, the GEM will be the largest archaeological museum in the world, spanning 490,000 square metres with panoramic pyramid views. Designed by Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects, it will display over 100,000 artefacts from Egypt's ancient history—including the complete Tutankhamun collection, exhibited together for the first time since its discovery in 1922—alongside monumental treasures such as the 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II. The museum also features advanced conservation laboratories, expansive exhibition halls, educational facilities, and visitor amenities. It is envisioned as a global cultural landmark that will boost Egypt's tourism industry, complement the Giza Plateau, and position the country as a premier hub for archaeology and heritage preservation. During the meeting, Madbouly also reviewed recent presidential activities, including President Al-Sisi's reception of Vietnamese President Luong Cuong on Tuesday. The two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, with enhanced cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and investment, supported by both governments and the private sector. In a separate matter, following the ratification of amendments to the Old Rent Law, Madbouly instructed the concerned ministers to begin immediate implementation of the law's provisions. He affirmed the state's commitment to supporting tenants, providing alternative housing, and personally monitoring the matter on a regular basis.
The National
06-08-2025
- The National
Egyptian Grand Museum official opening rescheduled for November 1
Egypt on Wednesday set November 1 as the date for the much-heralded, official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world's largest museum about a single civilisation. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during a Cabinet meeting. The opening of the $1 billion museum had been scheduled for July 3. The government blamed "current regional developments" when it announced the latest delay on June 14. That was a veiled reference to the Iran-Israel conflict at the time. A government statement said Mr Madbouly has directed the authorities to finish preparations for the opening, which he said would be an "exceptional event" attended by foreign dignitaries. The museum, which sits in view of the Giza pyramids west of Cairo, staged a soft opening last year. It is expected to continue to receive visitors until shortly before the formal opening in November. The museum was first announced in 2002, when a foundation stone was laid at the site. However, the idea of building a museum of its size was first mooted in the 1990s. The museum, or the GEM as it is known, is attracting thousands of foreign and local visitors daily. Still, Egypt believes the official opening ceremony, which is likely to be broadcast live across much of the world, will help to boost tourism, a vital foreign currency earner for the North African country. The museum is forecast to attract as many as five million visitors after its official opening. Egypt is anticipating a 6 per cent annual increase in international visitors this year to reach 16.8 million travellers, despite the shadow of wars around it in Gaza, its eastern neighbour, and Sudan to the south. Egypt aims to further diversify its offerings and expand into adventure travel and conference meetings, among other avenues, according to Sherif Fathy, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Egypt may revise its annual forecast upwards later in the year, as the first three months of 2025 showed a 25 per cent annual increase, he said.
The National
06-08-2025
- The National
Grand Egyptian Museum: Six things to look forward to when doors open on November 1
Creating the Grand Egyptian Museum has become a seemingly Sisyphean task, with years of delays suggesting it would be eternally on the verge of opening. These setbacks are understandable. Egypt has undergone revolution, political uncertainty and economic crises since the museum was announced in 2002 – when a foundation stone was laid at the site, two kilometres away from the Giza pyramids. The museum held a soft launch in October 2024, partially opening to the public, but even then an official launch date seemed elusive. The museum was then scheduled for a July 3 opening, which was pushed back following the Israel-Iran conflict. Now, the museum has a new opening date: November 1. With the hilltop in sight and 700,000 years of history waiting inside, here are six things to look forward to at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Architecture Under construction for 21 years, the museum took almost as long to build as its ancient neighbours. Architecturally, it is no less impressive. Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, a Dublin firm, the museum draws on Pharaonic styles. The structure is shaped like a chamfered pyramid. Its north and south walls are aligned with the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Its entrance features translucent alabaster stone. The complex is decorated with triangles, some more apparent than others, so the entire site will resemble a conglomeration of pyramids. A diorama of the museum is on display inside, by the window that overlooks the Great Pyramids. This is one of the best views of the tombs – provided you visit during the day. Hanging obelisk The first of the museum's attractions is outside its entrance. The hanging obelisk was created in the name of King Ramesses II. It was discovered in two pieces at Tanis in the eastern Nile Delta. After a meticulous restoration process, the obelisk now stands on a platform that allows visitors to walk underneath the towering structure and admire its base. Statue of King Ramesses II Walking into the museum, visitors immediately see a lofty statue of Ramesses II. The 11-metre statue is made of red granite, weighs 83 tonnes and is more than 3,000 years old. The statue was discovered in the early 19th century in the village of Mit Rahina, near the ancient city of Memphis. It was split into six pieces. Initial attempts at restoring the statue failed until 1955, when the fragments were moved to Cairo's Bab Al Hadid Square. The statue was put back together and the square became known as Ramses Square. It was transported to Giza in 2006 and finally made it to the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2018. Journey to Eternity The entrance to the museum's galleries is in itself a remarkable experience. Statues of deities, sarcophagi, columns, sphinxes and obelisks are arranged on the steps. There are pharaohs such as Ramesses II, Merneptah, Amenhotep III and Senwosret I; deities including the falcon-headed Horus; Sekhmet, mother of lion-headed war god Maahes; and Serapis, the Graeco-Egyptian god who is believed to have been a merging of Osiris, god of the afterlife and the sacred bull Apis. Visitors can either climb the wide steps and take their time admiring each piece, or they can briskly head up via a travelator. Called Journey to Eternity, this area aims to reflect the burial rituals of ancient Egypt, specifically of a royal's soul travelling to Heaven to become a star. Curation Curating hundreds of thousands of years of historical artefacts is no straightforward task. Chronological curation is the most obvious approach and, while the museum does that, there are also thematic divisions to the collection. The galleries are arranged in three spaces. Each is dedicated to a specific time period, beginning with the Prehistoric Period, Predynastic Period and Old Kingdom, before transitioning to the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom, and finally the Late Period and Graeco-Roman Period. Each gallery is then segmented into three spaces, which touch upon everyday society, the royal class and belief systems. Every artefact is an important historical piece. You will find Pharaonic busts in marble, baboons carved into limestone, colossal statues of kings and queens, granite stela marking key moments and, of course, funerary items. Tutankhamun's tomb The boy king is arguably the star of the museum, and artefacts found in his tomb are being kept under wraps until the official opening. King Tutankhamun is one of Ancient Egypt's most famous rulers. He ruled from just nine years old until his death at about 19. His short reign was during one of Ancient Egypt's wealthier periods and made a profound impact. He was instrumental in promoting traditional Egyptian religion and art, restoring tombs and statues dedicated to the old deities. His penchant for art is reflected in the items found in his tomb that will be on display. These include the famous gold mask to protect him in the afterlife. His golden throne, chariots and golden shrines will also be exhibited.
