Dr Ali Noureldin Ismail
Translation Nora Kamel
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
The idea to establish the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) originated in 1992. It was not till 2024 that the soft opening took place. The UNESCO considered it to be one of the most iconic museums in the world.
Total Area
- Total area of the museum: 291,400 m2
- Main building of the museum: 130,000 m2
Development of the Surrounding Area
The area surrounding the museum was developed through:
- Cutting a 2-kilometer road that connects the museum to the famous Pyramids area.
- Establishing a green zone of 90,000 m2 that includes 4000 trees and 2500 palm trees.
- A sculpture line featuring 750 models of Egyptian social and political figures.
- Setting up restaurants, gardens, and rest areas outside the museum.
- Constructing giant display screens to broadcast the historical event.
Museum Contents
The total number of archaeological artifacts is approximately 100,000 pieces, including pieces transferred from various other museums in Egypt and or other restored pieces from museums outside Egypt. These relics represent various ancient eras of Egypt, from the pre-dynastic period up to the Greek and Roman eras.
The main entrance of the museum occupies an area of 7,000 m2 and includes 12 halls, the most prominent of which are:
- The Hall of the famous King Ramses II, whose statue was moved from the center of Ramses Square to welcome visitors at its new location in the museum. This statue is 11 meters high and weighs 83 tons of granite.
- The Hall of King Tutankhamun’s Collection. This rare collection includes 5,240 artifacts, including his golden mask.
- The Hall of Khufu’s Boats – the Sun Boats – which are 42 meters long and made from 30 wooden planks.
- In addition to unique halls for children and other main halls that feature collections of artifacts.
Official Museum Opening
The opening took place on November 1, 2025, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. After a brief speech, he placed the 100,000th artifact into a symbolic model representing Egypt. The opening was attended by numerous Egyptian and international delegations, including the following:
- Delegations of Kings and Royal Families from 29 European, Arab, and African countries.
- Representatives from 9 international and regional organizations.
- Heads of State and Ministers from 22 countries.
- Egyptian figures who played a role in the success of the event, including the heads of companies that contributed to the museum’s execution, as well as Egyptian figures with international recognition, totaling over 20 personalities.
Official Celebration Program
The program lasted for about three continuous hours and involved no less than fifteen hundred Egyptians and foreigners (men and women) in making it a success. It included a set of musical and vocal segments accompanied by a trained orchestra and choir, with a backdrop of fireworks.
Museum Opening to the Public
The museum opened to the public on November 4, 2025. The first week saw strong attendance, averaging at least $22,000$ visitors, with foreign tourists constituting fifty percent or more. This influx led to a peak of $40,000$ visitors by the end of the week. To manage demand, an electronic pre-booking system was instituted, granting priority access to foreigners.
The ticket price does not exceed 200 Egyptian pounds for Egyptians and 25 US dollars for foreigners.
Summary
The Grand Egyptian Museum is considered the fourth pyramid that holds the treasures of Egypt and is the bridge (El Guesr) that connects Egypt’s immortal glories of the past with the aspirations for a bright future.
