CAIRO— Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a monumental project two decades in the making, aimed at boosting the country’s tourism sector and celebrating its ancient heritage.
Located on the Giza Plateau, near the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, the $1 billion museum is the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, housing more than 50,000 artifacts chronicling the history and culture of ancient Egypt.
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World leaders, monarchs, and heads of state attended the grand opening ceremony, which Egypt’s presidency described as “an exceptional event in the history of human culture and civilization.” The project has been a cornerstone of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s infrastructure drive to revitalize Egypt’s economy after years of stagnation and instability following the 2011 Arab Spring.
Designed with a modern triangular glass façade echoing the nearby pyramids, GEM spans 24,000 square meters of exhibition space. Visitors enter through a grand six-story atrium lined with ancient statues, leading to galleries that offer views of the pyramids. A pedestrian bridge connects the museum directly to the historic site, with electric vehicles available for transport.
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Among the highlights are two halls dedicated to the 5,000 artifacts of King Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time since Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of the boy pharaoh’s tomb. The collection includes Tutankhamun’s golden throne, sarcophagus, funeral beds, chariots, and his iconic burial mask.
Renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass described the Tutankhamun collection as the “masterpiece of the museum”, underscoring why anticipation for the museum’s opening has been so great.
Authorities hope the GEM will attract millions of tourists, generate foreign revenue, and reinforce Egypt’s global cultural standing. Tourism, which contributed about 8% of Egypt’s GDP in 2024, has been recovering after years of political unrest and the global pandemic. The government now aims to double annual tourist arrivals to 30 million by 2032.
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The museum, which had faced multiple construction delays since 2005, will open to the public on Tuesday, marking a new chapter in Egypt’s efforts to preserve and celebrate its ancient legacy.