The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the world’s largest museum dedicated to ancient civilizations, opened after two decades of construction. Located near the Giza pyramid and the Sphinx, it houses over 50,000 artifacts, including the complete collection of King Tutankhamun for the first time since 1922. The grand opening ceremony featured global leaders and a celebration dubbed “Pharaohmania,” with performances and security heightened across Cairo.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi emphasized the museum’s role in combining ancient Egyptian genius with modern creativity, aiming to boost tourism and strengthen the economy. The GEM is expected to attract around 5 million visitors annually, competing with top global museums. Its construction faced delays due to political unrest since 2011 and included a $1 billion investment launched in 2005.
The museum showcases artifacts from different eras and features a grand staircase leading to views of the pyramids. Officials hope the GEM will revitalize Egyptian tourism, which was hit hard post-Arab Spring but is beginning to recover. With the museum opening to the public on November 4, authorities project significant economic benefits and an increase in tourism numbers in the coming years.
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