Egypt Inaugurates the Grand Egyptian Museum Near the Giza Pyramids

Overview

• A ceremony in Cairo marks the official opening, with Egyptian officials saying they expected around 80 delegations, including about 40 led by kings, princes and heads of state or government, and confirmed attendees such as Germany’s president and Brazil’s culture minister.
• The museum consolidates around 100,000 artifacts and reunites roughly 5,000 objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb for the first time, alongside signature pieces that include an 11‑meter statue of Ramses II and the 42‑meter funerary boat of Khufu.
• Planned in the 1990s and built from 2004, the project exceeded $1 billion after years of delays linked to political upheaval and the pandemic, with financing reported from Japanese loans, government funds and revenues from international exhibitions.
• Officials present the GEM as a catalyst for 5–8 million visitors a year and a science hub with advanced conservation laboratories and energy- and water‑saving features.
• Criticism persists over the cost, long timeline and political influence, including concerns about tourism centralization and the fact that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi chairs the museum’s board of trustees.