CAIRO -UNS: Egypt has officially inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization — marking a historic milestone in the country’s cultural and heritage landscape.
The landmark opening ceremony was attended by a host of international dignitaries, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, King Philippe of Belgium, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
High-ranking Arab officials also graced the occasion, led by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, alongside Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham of Oman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi formally inaugurated the billion-dollar complex, describing it as “a new chapter in history” for Egypt and humanity.
“Today, as we celebrate together the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, we are writing a new chapter in the history of the present and the future, in the cause of this ancient homeland,”
— President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
The spectacular opening ceremony featured dazzling light displays illuminating both the Giza Pyramids and the museum’s monumental façade. Guests were treated to a series of elaborate musical performances linking Cairo with Tokyo, Paris, and New York, symbolizing Egypt’s global cultural connections.
A Monument to Civilization
Located just two kilometers from the Giza Pyramids, the 490,000-square-meter complex is a stunning fusion of modern design and ancient inspiration, conceived by the award-winning Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects.
“To say that the Grand Egyptian Museum is Egypt’s gift to the world is not an exaggeration,” said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. “The legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization represents a global heritage.”
The museum’s expansive 40,000 square meters of exhibition space tell the story of ancient Egypt through more than 57,000 artifacts, displayed across the Tutankhamun Galleries, Main Galleries, Grand Hall, Grand Staircase, and the Khufu Boat Museum.
Among its most extraordinary exhibits is the 4,600-year-old solar boat of King Khufu, the pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid of Giza. The 43-meter (140-foot) cedar vessel, discovered in the 1950s, was buried beside the pyramid to accompany Khufu — or Cheops — on his journey to the afterlife.
Tutankhamun’s Legacy Reunited
What truly sets the GEM apart is its unprecedented presentation of the complete collection of King Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time. More than 5,000 treasures, gathered from various museums and storages — including the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Luxor Museum — now reside in two dedicated halls within the new complex.
“Visitors will be amazed by the museum’s modern presentation techniques, which narrate the story of the boy king through a fresh curatorial philosophy that differs from traditional exhibition styles,”
— Dr. Tarek Tawfik, Former Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum
The 7,500-square-meter Tutankhamun exhibition showcases every artifact discovered in the young pharaoh’s tomb on Luxor’s West Bank by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 — exactly one century before the museum’s completion.
A Gift to the World
With its state-of-the-art design, innovative displays, and unparalleled collection, the Grand Egyptian Museum stands not only as a tribute to Egypt’s ancient glory but also as a beacon of cultural diplomacy and education for the world.
As President El-Sisi declared, the museum’s opening marks “a new chapter in the story of Egypt — one that bridges its glorious past with its promising future.”
