Nestled near the iconic Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is preparing for a lavish opening, featuring a towering statue of Ramses II and more than 100,000 artefacts, including Tutankhamun's golden treasures. (Report: AFP)
Updated on : 06 March,2025 04:40 PM IST | Compiled by : Raaina Jain
After two decades of planning, the GEM is set to open fully on July 3, following a partial opening in October. Its long-awaited debut comes after years of delays.
Ahmed Ghoneim, the museum's director, said the inauguration could span several days, with celebrations extending beyond the museum and pyramids to sites across Egypt and even abroad. "It will be a spectacular showcase of Egypt's historical and touristic potential," Ghoneim told Egypt's ON TV.
Spanning 50 hectares (120 acres), the GEM is twice the size of both Paris's Louvre and New York's Metropolitan, and two and a half times the British Museum, according to its director.
An 11-metre (36-foot) statue of Ramses II greets visitors, leading to a grand staircase lined with statues of pharaohs, gods and sarcophagi, and ending at a window framing the pyramids. Currently, 12 galleries display around 15,000 artefacts arranged chronologically from prehistory to the Greco-Roman period.
With cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality and interactive exhibits, the GEM is expected to offer a fresh take on storytelling, making history come alive for younger generations. The museum website lists entry prices starting at 200 Egyptian pounds (about $4) for adult nationals, and 1,200 pounds for foreigners.
