Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on July 3rd
Updated 2/26/2025 7:39:00 AM
Arab Finance: Egypt will inaugurate the $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on July 3rd, marking the completion of a nearly two-decade project expected to bolster the country’s vital tourism sector, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced.
Located about a mile from the Giza Pyramids, the 120-feddan museum is billed as the world’s largest antiquities museum, set to house up to 100,000 artifacts, including relics from King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
It will replace the colonial-era Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo, offering a modernized and high-tech display of Egypt’s pharaonic history.
Construction of the museum began in 2005, with the original opening planned for late 2020. However, the coronavirus pandemic led to delays.
In the past year, selected site sections have been open to visitors ahead of the full launch.
Officials anticipate the museum will draw five million visitors annually, reinforcing Egypt’s tourism industry, a crucial source of hard currency.
Tourism hit a record high in 2024, with 15.78 million visitors despite regional instability, including the war between Israel and Hamas and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The government aims to attract 30 million tourists in the coming years, aided by the recent devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which could make the country a more affordable destination for foreign travelers.
Related News
