“New chapter in history”: Sisi opens Grand Egyptian Museum

• $1 Billion Project: Took over two decades to complete near the Giza Pyramids.
• Key Collection: Houses the entire 5,000-piece funerary collection of King Tutankhamun.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi formally inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Saturday evening, more than two decades after work began and following multiple postponements.

"Today, we celebrate the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and write a new chapter of history for the present and the future," Sisi said in his speech, noting that it is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.

Green and red fireworks lit up the Cairo sky following Sisi's official announcement. The museum is set to begin receiving visitors this week. The grand opening, attended by dozens of official delegations, presidents, and monarchs, featured artistic segments by Egyptian performers while the exterior walls of the museum were illuminated in green.

Sisi noted that the museum's construction "resulted from broad international cooperation with a number of global companies and institutions."

He added, "This great edifice is not just a place to preserve precious antiquities; it is a living testament to the genius of the Egyptian people."

A 'Gift to the World'

Earlier Saturday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the museum as a "global landmark presented by Egypt as a gift to the entire world," calling it "the dream that was in our imagination."

The construction of the museum, which covers an area of nearly 500,000 square meters (about 124 acres), took more than 20 years and cost over $1 billion.

Madbouly noted that the "idea for the museum was conceived about 30 years ago... but the construction of this project went through a period of suspension due to the circumstances Egypt went through starting from 2011."

"I can say that the largest volume of construction took place over the last seven or eight years," he added.

The museum’s centerpiece will be the complete collection of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This collection, which includes about 5,000 funerary objects, was previously scattered among various Egyptian museums, traveling the world, or held in storage; it will now be gathered in a single hall at the GEM.

In total, the GEM holds more than 100,000 artifacts, half of which will be on display, making it the largest collection in the world dedicated to one civilization that spanned 30 dynasties over 5,000 years.

Visitors are welcomed in a vast foyer centered around a colossal, 83-ton granite statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt for more than 3,000 years. The statue stands 11 meters (36 feet) tall.

Unlike the century-old, cramped museum in central Cairo, the GEM features large, precisely lit halls, virtual reality exhibitions, and a children's museum within its sand-colored stone walls. Through a glass window, archaeology enthusiasts will be able to watch work inside the restoration laboratory on a 4,500-year-old solar boat found buried near the Pyramid of Khufu.

Obstacles and Future Outlook

The GEM's opening was postponed repeatedly for several reasons, some linked to the "Arab Spring" protest wave or the COVID-19 pandemic. After authorities set a target date of July 3, 2025, for the opening, they postponed it again due to regional tensions at the time, particularly the war on Gaza and the aftermath of the Iran-‘Israel’ conflict.

Observers caution that the museum's long-term success as a global tourist destination depends on stable tourism and robust infrastructure.

Egyptian archaeologist Hussein Bassir said the future of the museum relies on "periodic maintenance to preserve the building and its treasures." He confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that "if the current momentum is not maintained, the museum may quickly lose its attractiveness and the number of visitors may decrease."

Egypt's tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency and jobs, has been repeatedly shaken over the past decade and a half, due to the 2011 uprising, waves of unrest, and subsequent terrorist attacks.

Elhamy El Zayat, former head of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, told AFP the museum is part of a larger plan to transform the entire Giza Plateau. He noted that "Egypt has created an entirely new cultural and tourist zone" on the plateau, with a nearby airport and improved visitor facilities at the pyramids.

Roads leading to the plateau have been renovated, a digital ticketing system has been introduced, and air-conditioned electric buses now run near the pyramids.

In recent years, tourism has shown signs of recovery. Egypt welcomed 15 million visitors in the first nine months of the year, a 21% increase compared to the same period last year, with revenues reaching $12.5 billion (a 14.7% increase), according to official figures.

Tourism Minister Sherif Fathi told reporters that "5,000 to 6,000 visitors are currently visiting the museum," adding, "We expect this to reach 15,000 [visitors] daily." He added that the government is working on completing a comprehensive development plan for northeast Cairo, from the new Sphinx International Airport to the Saqqara pyramids, including hotels, restaurants, and commercial centers.

Despite these plans, many observers remain cautious, pointing out that regional instability, including the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, as well as economic pressures, could jeopardize the museum's ability to provide a major boost to Egypt's tourism sector.