Cairo: AfricUpdate – News Desk
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opens its doors today in a historic, world-class event that will witness unprecedented international attendance. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will lead the celebration with seventy-nine official delegations, including 39 led by kings, princes, and heads of state and government, set to attend.
GEM stands as the world’s largest archaeological complex dedicated to a single civilization, showcasing the history of ancient Egypt from 700,000 BC to 394 AD, uniting thousands of years of heritage under one roof. The museum houses over 57,000 artifacts, including the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time since the discovery of his tomb in 1922.
Spanning 490,000 square meters, the GEM features a 7,000 m² main entrance dominated by a colossal statue of King Ramses II, and a 6,000 m² Grand Staircase rising the equivalent of six stories, adorned with masterpieces from across Egyptian history. Visitors will explore 12 main exhibition halls, temporary galleries, and a Children’s Museum, all designed with cutting-edge museological techniques to create a fully immersive journey through Egypt’s past.
Recognized as the first green museum in Africa and the Middle East, GEM has earned eight ISO certifications in energy management, health and safety, environment, and quality, along with the 2024 EDGE Advance Green Building Certification. UNESCO hailed the museum as offering both Egyptian and international visitors a unique opportunity to travel through more than 5,000 years of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Construction began in 2005, with major building phases launched in 2016, a trial opening in October 2024, and the official grand opening on November 1, 2025. The GEM is expected to attract around five million visitors annually, cementing its place as a global beacon of culture, heritage, and sustainable museum design.
