logo
The world's most anticipated museum is finally open

The world's most anticipated museum is finally open

Observer26-04-2025

I was drawn to the outskirts of Cairo by the colossal complex in the desert — a towering site that arose over decades, built at unimaginable expense, with precisely cut stones sourced from local quarries; a set of buildings whose construction, plagued by extraordinary challenges, spanned the reigns of several rulers; a collective cultural testament, the largest of its kind, teeming with royal history.
No, I'm not referring to Giza's famous pyramids. I came to see the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times)
Visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times)
The innermost of Tutankhamens three nested coffins, on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times)
A crocodile mummy dating to the Greco-Roman era on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, in February 2025. (Stephen Hiltner/The New York Times)
There is perhaps no institution on Earth whose opening has been as wildly anticipated, or as mind-bogglingly delayed, as the Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo. Its construction has been such a fiasco — mired by funding lapses, logistical hurdles, a pandemic, nearby wars, revolutions (yes,
plural
) — that it begs comparison to that of the pyramids that lie just over a mile away on the Giza Plateau. (The 4,600-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, built from around 2.3 million stone blocks and without the use of wheels, pulleys, or iron tools, took about 25 years to build, by some estimates. So far, the Grand Egyptian Museum has taken more than 20.)
Planned openings have come and gone since 2012. (Even The New York Times got it wrong; its list of 52 Places to Go in 2020 prematurely referred to the 'fancy new digs for King Tut and company.') In time, frustrations bubbled over for would-be visitors, many of whom had planned vacations around the new museum.
'I have canceled two trips to Cairo because of anticipated opening dates and then delays,' one traveler wrote on the museum's Instagram page this year. 'I have wanted to visit since I was a child, and the promise of the museum and constant delays is ruining that experience for so many people.'
Another wrote: 'We'll all be dead longer than King Tut himself by the time this place is open!'
The wait is now over. Well, mostly.
When I visited in mid-February, 11 of the 12 main exhibition galleries were open, along with the cavernous entrance hall and a broad staircase strewn with dozens of artifacts.
But arguably the museum's biggest draw, the Tutankhamen galleries, which will showcase more than 5,000 artifacts from the boy king's tomb, remained closed. (For now, Tutankhamen's gold funeral mask, among the most iconic archaeological artifacts in the world, is still on display at the old Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square.) Also inaccessible was a separate annex that will showcase two royal boats discovered near the Great Pyramid in 1954.
Those portions of the museum are expected to open this summer, with an official ceremony scheduled for July 3. (You
might
take that date with a grain of salt.)
Still, even the museum's incomplete offerings — along with the building itself and its billion-dollar views — are staggering.
Entering the main hall, I was struck by both the scale of the structure and the textural allure of its surfaces.
Just inside the pyramidal entryway (the motifs aren't exactly subtle), I was greeted by one of the museum's many showstoppers: a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, widely regarded as the most powerful of ancient Egypt's pharaohs, that stands more than 30 feet tall and weighs more than 80 tons. The red-granite figure has a fabled modern history: It was found — lying on its side, broken into six pieces — by an Italian Egyptologist in 1820; in 1954 it was installed at a traffic circle in downtown Cairo, where it stood for half a century before being painstakingly transported to the new museum site in 2006.
From the atrium I ascended the Grand Staircase, first via a long escalator and then again on foot, having returned to the bottom for a closer look at the dozens of large-scale statues, columns and sarcophagi that line the ascent.
Atop the stairs was another breathtaking surprise: an unobstructed view of the Giza pyramids, perfectly framed in a set of floor-to-ceiling windows.
I stood before the windows, helplessly transfixed, for the better part of an hour. If there's a better human-made view on the planet, I've yet to take it in.
From the top of the stairs, I entered the first of the museum's 12 main galleries, which are organized both chronologically and by theme, spanning from prehistory to the Roman era.
Summarizing the exhibition halls would be a thankless task, and besides, the joy of visiting any vast museum is uncovering the peculiar selection of items that stand out to you alone. A few highlights cling to me like burrs: The dizzying display of blue ushabti, the figurines left as servants for the dead. An immense mummified crocodile. A 3,100-year-old wig made from braided human hair.
The wig in particular dragged the ancient world to the fore, bridging what at many museums feels like an unbridgeable divide. Leave it to a delicate human feature, quietly preserved for thousands of years, to bring the past to life.
The arrival of the Grand Egyptian Museum establishes a trio of must-see museums in and around Cairo. In Tahrir Square stands the oldest: the Egyptian Museum, a beautiful beaux-arts building that for more than a century has showcased one of the world's great collections of antiquities. (Largely unmodernized, the museum has transferred, and will continue transferring, many of its most prized items to Giza, prompting concerns about its future.)
Also in the mix is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, another landmark that fully opened in 2021 and whose main draw is its haunting collection of royal mummies.
All three are worthy of extended visits.
But in many respects, the Grand Egyptian Museum now stands alone. Billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world, as well as the largest museum devoted to a single civilization, it was initially proposed by Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime authoritarian president, who announced his plans for a new flagship institution in 1992. A ceremonial foundation stone was laid 10 years later, and Dublin-based Heneghan Peng Architects won a competition to design the building in 2003. Construction began in 2005.
Then came the long series of spectacular setbacks: the 2008 global economic crisis, the Arab Spring (and the subsequent decimation of Egypt's tourism industry), the COVID-19 pandemic, and wars in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. Over time, excitement for the museum was eclipsed by coverage of its postponement.
But I doubt the epic delays will get the spotlight for much longer.
If my experience is any indication, then all it takes to overlook the long wait is a stroll through the museum's timeless collection — and an extended gaze from the top of its staircase.
This article originally appeared in

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

America's summer hot spots wonder: Will the vacationers still come?
America's summer hot spots wonder: Will the vacationers still come?

Observer

time2 days ago

  • Observer

America's summer hot spots wonder: Will the vacationers still come?

Tim Cafferty, who owns a vacation rental business on North Carolina's Outer Banks, is upbeat about the summer season, but he is also doing anything he can to lure would-be vacationers. His company, Outer Banks Blue, ran a special promotion in March offering a 15 per cent discount on bookings. He is encouraging property owners to drop their prices. And for the first time, he is allowing visitors to reserve many of the 300 houses his company manages for just a few days instead of requiring them to stay a full week. All that has helped juice his sales, but there are still surprising vacancies. The week of the Fourth of July, a highly coveted rental period, is 'very soft for some reason,' Cafferty said. And more houses than usual are still available for late August, which could be because people are waiting until the last minute to book their getaways. In the end, Cafferty said, he would count himself lucky if Outer Banks Blue's occupancy levels this summer ended flat compared with last year, given the uncertain economic climate. Dishes are preapred at Lucky 12 Tavern in Nags Head, N C. — The New York Times 'People are ready to come,' he said. 'They are just looking for a good price.' Cafferty's cautious optimism in the face of those worrisome trends is indicative of how many business owners in popular vacation areas are approaching the crucial summer months. Although American consumers are showing some signs of strain amidst concerns about higher prices and the prospect of a recession, many businesses that cater to domestic tourists are preparing, somewhat guardedly, for what they expect to be a relatively normal summertime surge. Their bullishness is not unfounded. For all the concerns in recent years that consumer spending would buckle under soaring inflation and high borrowing costs, it has managed to remain solid, powering economic growth even when the economic outlook was hazy. The summer season will provide the latest stress test for that sunny spending pattern — and the lifeblood of many vacation towns is at stake. Seating at a restaurant at the Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head, N C. — The New York Times 'Right now, it's all scary,' said Gary Jonas, who owns a bar and food truck lot, the Little Fleet, in Traverse City, Michigan, a summer destination in northern Michigan known for its cherries and vineyards. 'We're just crossing our fingers and hoping that it's similar to previous years.' Typically, American consumers put their money to work during the summer months on trips and leisure activities. Airlines, hotels and short-term rental companies count on bumps in bookings. Local economies in destination areas benefit from a swelling summertime population that buoys beachside cafes, souvenir shops, ice cream parlors and resorts. But consumers are bedeviled this year by a confluence of challenging circumstances that could curtail their summer spending. Their feelings about the economy have soured significantly since the beginning of the year amidst President Donald Trump's tariff rollout. Stock market volatility has made some consumers more apprehensive. So far, consumers are still spending. But for the most part, they no longer have the savings they had amassed during the pandemic that allowed them to spend more freely. Credit card debt that is 90 days or more past due has been rising across income levels and household debt has piled up. On calls with investors, consumer-facing companies are reporting that customers are trimming spending on discretionary items like meals out and snack foods; and warning that tariffs will force them to raise prices. Anglers at the fishing pier in Nags Head, N C. — The New York Times And if tariffs rise at the end of Trump's 90-day pause, that will put additional pressure on consumers who may suddenly find themselves facing higher costs for goods and services — just as the summer season is revving into high gear. 'There's a pullback in travel demand,' said Laura Rosner-Warburton, senior economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives, a forecasting firm. Prices for hotels and airfares have fallen, she noted, which suggests consumers are pulling back their spending on leisure. 'That's a sign of some weakening,' she said. There are some bright spots for summer businesses. Travel often holds up reasonably well when the economy softens, though it takes a hit if the circumstances become dire enough. Spending on travel dipped during and after the Great Recession in 2007-09, for instance. And for now, the labour market remains strong, without the kind of steep job losses that typically translate into less spending. Domestic destinations could also see a boost from American travellers, especially those with lower incomes, who may choose to vacation in the United States rather than go abroad. The share of consumers planning to go on a domestic vacation in the next six months bounced back in May, to about 42 per cent, according to The Conference Board. 'I would expect there to be more domestic travel this year than the previous few,' said David Tinsley, an economist at the Bank of America Institute, which found that lower- and middle-income households were more likely to drive to their destinations than fly. 'It's consistent with an idea of people being a little bit more prudent,' he said. It is that consumer frugality that has made Brian Gagnon, president of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, confident about the upcoming months. The Lake of the Ozarks, a human-made body of water in central Missouri, is a favoured driving destination for people in the Midwest, which he hopes will make it more attractive for travellers looking to save on airfare this summer. Gagnon, who also owns a swimwear shop in the area called Summer USA, says foot traffic on Bagnell Dam Strip, the main shopping and dining street, has been high. Tickets for an annual car show in May sold out within days. Sales at his store are slightly up at this point compared with last year. Racers at LeMans Go-Karts in Lake Ozark, Mo. — The New York Times 'We'll keep an eye on things and just keep our finger on the pulse with everything,' he said. 'But I think going into it, it looks pretty positive from everything we've seen so far.' The picture could be very different for places that depend heavily on overseas visitors, such as New York. Research firm Tourism Economics expects that international travel to the United States will be down 9.4 per cent in 2025 as foreign travellers stay away for reasons including economic and political uncertainty. Some business owners are also preparing for the possibility that visitors might be less inclined to open their wallets this year. Nick Sharp, director of a restaurant company in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, known as Rex's Family of Restaurants, said he was planning to more aggressively market discounts at happy hours, for example, as well as hire fewer employees across his six restaurants. One of the establishments, a Mexican restaurant called Salt & Lime, is introducing a less expensive lunch menu instead of charging the same prices for lunch and dinner. 'Our thought pattern is revolving around this consumer sentiment situation where people are not yet without money but just not yet sure that they are going to have the money that they would normally spend,' he said. On the Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands off North Carolina, businesses are likewise adapting to the current economy — and holding their breath. Mark Ballog, who owns Lucky 12 Tavern in Nags Head, North Carolina, said he did not plan to raise menu prices this summer despite the hefty cost of fish and meat because he worried about 'scaring people away.' He is anticipating selling a lot of his signature 16-inch New York-style pizzas this year to families who want cheaper meals. But his outlook is hardly gloomy. 'I'm pretty hopeful,' he said. 'This area here — we attract a lot of people that don't have a money problem in the world.' — The New York Times BLURB Consumers are bedeviled this year by a confluence of challenging circumstances that could curtail their summer spending. Their feelings about the economy have soured significantly since the beginning of the year amidst President Donald Trump's tariff rollout

How to travel without a phone
How to travel without a phone

Observer

time23-05-2025

  • Observer

How to travel without a phone

In today's hyperconnected world, traveling without a phone seems impossible, or at the very least, pointless. But for those who've done it, the experience can be rewarding and rejuvenating. In January, Soraya Lemboumba, 40, a project manager in Switzerland, spent 10 days in Panama on a phone-free trip. 'It was life-changing,' she said. She said she awoke to the sounds of nature rather than an alarm and didn't spend her time composing captions for social media in her head or using her phone to fill the silence. 'I spent days immersed in pure presence,' she said. Thinking of disconnecting for your next trip? Here are some steps to start. Decide on your rules Before leaving for the airport, decide whether you're bringing a laptop or tablet, or nothing at all. A laptop performs all the functions of your smartphone, but you're less likely to bring it to the dinner table or the beach. Then, if you're bringing a device, write down a list of rules to govern your tech use throughout your trip. For example: — I won't use electronics for entertainment on this trip. — If I can't hail a taxi, I'll use my laptop for Uber. — I'll use my tablet for only an hour per day for researching activities and lodging. A physical list codifies a system and eliminates temptation during those bored, anxious moments that inevitably arise during travel, which prompt you to grab your device. You can modify the rules throughout your trip if you feel they're not working. Downloading app blocker extensions like Freedom, ScreenZen, and Opal can block apps or websites like YouTube, Instagram, and X for preset periods. Temporarily deleting apps is another effective way to prevent mindless scrolling. Navigating the airport Most anxiety from phoneless travel centers on logistics, like what will happen at the airport or train station, where there are schedules, and possible delays and cancellations. As a rule of thumb, allow ample time for transportation — at least an extra hour to buffer against scheduling mishaps or contingencies. Without a phone to display e-tickets, you'll need to rely on paper boarding passes. Most airlines will print them out for you at the kiosks free of charge. But be careful, some airlines — namely Frontier — charge a $25 fee per person, per direction, to print boarding passes. Avoid this fee by printing them out beforehand. With no airline app, you'll need to remember to keep an eye on those monitors throughout the airport for delays and gate changes, and don't hesitate to ask the gate attendants and airline employees for help or directions. Catherine Price, the author of How to Break Up With Your Phone, reminds us that digitized travel isn't always desirable. 'People forget that you can rely on paper,' Price says, 'and the feeling of freedom outweighs any minor inconvenience.' Getting your bearings When you arrive at your lodging, introduce yourself to the front desk and concierge, addressing them by their first names — a scientifically proven way to curry favor, which can be helpful if you need directions printed or taxis hailed throughout your trip. To orient yourself near your hotel or other lodging, walk in increasingly larger concentric circles outward. Use physical maps and expect mistakes. The beauty of phoneless travel comes in the hiccups, as wrong turns often lead to incredible memories. You'll find that you learn a city faster by relying on your wits and not GPS, which is a thrilling realization. Write down the full address of your accommodations and keep it safely tucked into your wallet in case you get lost. Worst-case scenario, show it to a taxi driver or a local. In place of a translator app, pick up a phrase book to carry with you (Lonely Planet's, in numerous languages, costs around $12). If you adopt a conversationalist's mindset, your trip will blossom in special, unforeseen ways. If you're confronted with a QR code for, say, a museum entry, merely explain your situation to the person behind you and ask to tag along, giving them cash for the ticket. This is how you unexpectedly make friends and access the serendipity of travel. Taking pictures without a phone Purchase a disposable camera or a digital camera for $50, and practice a philosophy of intention: take one picture of something you want to remember, then put your camera away. 'Every time you take a picture on vacation, you take yourself out of the moment,' Price said. 'You get too wrapped up in photos, especially if you're taking them to post on social media for others. Don't perform your vacation. Live it.' Writing in a journal at the end of the day can solidify the memories you've made. Instead of looking back through pictures on your phone, you can read about your vacation and relive these cherished memories in a more illustrative way. Taking 'mental snapshots' helped Lemboumba internalize memories by mindfully soaking in experiences as they happened. 'The moments I didn't photograph are, ironically, now the ones I remember the most vividly,' she said. Handling emergencies The prospect of an emergency keeps many from attempting phoneless travel, but real emergencies are rare. The emergencies you're likely to face are practical ones, like missing a train. These may seem catastrophic in the moment, but with the right attitude, they're nothing more than speed bumps. Since you won't have Apple Pay or similar services, in addition to a credit card, carry $200 to $300 in local currency in a secured travel bag that straps across your body. (Cash is handy for extricating yourself from sticky situations.) For female solo travelers who are anxious about phoneless travel, buy a prepaid burner phone for $40 and stick it in the bottom of your backpack. You can always borrow a phone in a time of crisis, and always let loved ones know your itinerary ahead of time. If phoneless solo travel feels too daunting, consider joining a group. Grace Borges, a 35-year-old research analyst from Washington, attended a five-day phoneless trip to Cuba last year with FTLO Travel, which specializes in group travel for young professionals. The tour guide handled logistics, and because she was in a group, 'sticking to the phoneless ethos was easier because everyone was in the same boat,' she said. Remember in moments of stress: Everyone traveled this way just a few decades ago. This article originally appeared in

Luqman al Hooti reveals his passion for geological gold
Luqman al Hooti reveals his passion for geological gold

Muscat Daily

time21-05-2025

  • Muscat Daily

Luqman al Hooti reveals his passion for geological gold

From mountain trails to gemstone tales, Omani explorer Luqman al Hooti unearths hidden treasures beneath Quriyat's peaks A deep love for hiking and the rugged mountains of Quriyat led Luqman Saeed al Hooti down a path few in Oman have walked – one that didn't just traverse winding trails, but delved into the rich, untapped world beneath them – the world of gemstones. 'While hiking, I used to wonder whether there were precious stones beneath our feet,' Luqman told Muscat Daily. 'And if they did exist, why hadn't anyone studied or spoken about them seriously?' That question marked the beginning of a journey that would transform Luqman's life. Fuelled by curiosity, he immersed himself in the science of gemology, poring over texts, learning how gemstones form, and how to identify them in nature. In 2015, he set off on his first exploratory expedition in the Wilayat of Quriyat – and struck geological gold. 'Thanks to my research and preparation, I was able to locate and document several types of gemstones and semi-precious stones,' he said. Among his early discoveries were varieties of agate, citrine, amethyst, tourmaline, aquamarine, opal, and turquoise. Luqman is quick to clarify the distinction, 'Precious stones are emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and rubies. The rest, like amethyst, turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, opal, and tourmaline are classified as semi-precious, most of which are forms of quartz.' But for Luqman, the allure went far beyond classification. 'People are naturally drawn to gemstones for their colour and shine,' he said. 'But for me, it was the thrill of discovery – finding them with my own hands – that made me fall in love with this world.' One moment remains etched in his memory – the discovery of his first semi-precious stone. 'It was a hexagonal quartz crystal, clear, gleaming, perfect. That single find validated all my study and effort. It was my first real success.' Soon after, Luqman began sharing his finds on Instagram, posting photos and insights about each stone. To his surprise, the audience grew, and so did the demand. 'People started asking to buy the stones I posted. At first, I sold them as raw stones. Then I thought – why not turn them into something more?' That thought sparked the next phase of his journey – jewellery design. 'I began designing jewellery using silver and gold, incorporating the gemstones I found in Oman,' he said. 'The response was overwhelming. It was the first initiative of its kind in the country.' Luqman says, 'Before I begin crafting any gemstone, I sketch the design I have in mind with a pencil and imagine how it will look in its final form. Every piece starts with a simple line, but it carries a complete story.' What began as a passion project evolved into a full-fledged business. Luqman established his own workshop, taught himself digital design, and began crafting bespoke pieces that combine Omani gemstones with artistic flair. 'Through my experience, I've seen growing local interest in Omani gemstones. But awareness is still limited – largely due to a lack of gem hunters and minimal media coverage of these natural treasures,' he noted. Beyond Oman, he's received growing interest from buyers in the Gulf and wider Arab world. 'There's global potential, but again, awareness is key. Countries like India and Thailand promote their stones through exhibitions and scientific publications. We need similar initiatives to build a gemstone industry that contributes to our economy.' Luqman uses his Instagram account as an educational platform, posting videos that document his explorations, identify stone types, and explain their handling. His content has attracted followers from around the world and helped raise awareness of Oman's geological richness. 'So far, I haven't faced major challenges,' he said. 'I rely on myself -conducting my own research, doing lab tests, and recording everything in a book I hope will one day become a reference for Omani gemstones.' His advice for aspiring gem enthusiasts? 'Start by learning about gemology, geological conditions, and rock types. And most importantly, respect nature – don't tamper with or damage exploration sites.' Luqman dreams of discovering precious stones such as rubies, emeralds, and diamonds in Oman. He also hopes to launch a luxury jewellery brand that promotes Omani gemstones globally. 'My ambition is to show the world that Oman has its own treasures -not just oil and history, but stunning stones shaped by nature and brought to life through design,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store