On Saturday, November 1, Egypt’s Great Egyptian Museum opened in Giza, presenting over 50,000 artefacts including a 3,000‑year‑old Ramesses II statue and Tutankhamun items.
Great Egyptian Museum Opens in Giza
On Saturday, November 1, the Great Egyptian Museum was inaugurated in Giza. The museum— the largest archaeological museum in the world—will display more than 50,000 items, including a three‑thousand‑year‑old statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II and artifacts recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tours will open on Tuesday, November 4.
President Sisi Declares Historic Occasion
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al‑Sisi attended the opening and called it “an exceptional event in the history of human culture and civilization.” He posted that the museum “fuses the genius of ancient Egyptians with the creativity of modern Egyptians, enriching global culture and art with a new orientational point.”
Museum as Egypt’s Gift to the World
Hassan Allam, head of the museum’s management company, said the facility will attract 15,000–20,000 visitors daily. “The world has been waiting; everyone is excited,” he told the Associated Press. Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy dubbed the museum “Egypt’s gift to the world,” adding that Egyptians are proud to finally share it.
Exhibit Space and Construction Costs
The museum covers 24,000 m² of exhibition space, plus conference, educational and conservation centres. Construction cost roughly $1 billion. Work, begun in 2005, was repeatedly delayed, partly due to political instability after the overthrow of President Hosni Mubaraki in 2011.
