After decades of anticipation, Egypt inaugurated on Saturday the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a monumental complex adjacent to the Giza Pyramids, now recognized as the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated entirely to a single civilization.

The grand opening ceremony, attended by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, drew delegations from 79 countries, including 39 represented by kings, princes, and heads of state or government. The event featured live musical performances set against the illuminated backdrop of the Pyramids, creating a visual link between ancient history and modern celebration.

The new Grand Egyptian Museum was unveiled and it’s MIND BLOWING

The Old Egypt and its 50,000 artifacts open to visitors — with its size of 70 football pitches, just in the Pyramids’ shadow

Entire Tutankhamun collection goes on display pic.twitter.com/jhptGAX0W3

— RT (@RT_com) November 1, 2025

Performers dressed in traditional pharaonic costumes staged a spectacular procession reminiscent of royal parades from ancient times.

'A gift from Egypt to humanity”

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly hailed the project as both “a unique global edifice” and “an exceptional event in Egypt’s history.”

“This dream has lived in our imagination for years. This world-class monument is a gift from Egypt to humanity, a nation with more than 7,000 years of history,” Madbouly told reporters ahead of the opening ceremony.

He extended gratitude to all who had contributed to the museum’s realization, explaining that most of the construction had taken place within the past seven years.

Madbouly added that the concept of the Grand Egyptian Museum had first emerged nearly 30 years ago, evolving through design contests, architectural studies, and preparatory work before construction finally began.

A vision decades in the making

Mohamed Mansour, a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees and a prominent businessman, forecast that the new complex could attract more than five million visitors annually.

The idea for the museum dates back to the 1990s, when then-Culture Minister Farouk Hosni proposed creating an expansive open-air museum connecting the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, and surrounding temples. Former President Hosni Mubarak laid the foundation stone in 2002, but after site preparation began in 2005, the project faced prolonged delays.

Construction resumed in 2014 under President el-Sisi, who expanded the vision to establish the most extensive museum in human history. Between 2017 and 2023, teams completed the main construction, digital systems, exhibition design, and public facilities. Trial operations began in October 2024, paving the way for this year’s official launch.

The 'fourth pyramid'

Located just two kilometers from the Pyramids Plateau, the museum spans 490,000 square meters. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the pyramids through a five-story glass façade designed to align with the summit of the Great Pyramid, allowing them to capture photos while touring King Tutankhamun’s treasures.

❝#Egypt presents to the world the largest museum of Egyptian civilization; a living testament to the genius and creativity of the Ancient Egyptians, and a masterpiece that harmoniously blends the authenticity of the past with the dynamism of modern Egypt.❞#GrandEgyptianMuseum pic.twitter.com/8RBLVs4EHT

— Ministry of Planning, Econ. Dev. & Int’l Coop 🇪🇬 (@MOICEgypt) October 31, 2025

The $1 billion project was financed largely through two Japanese loans worth $800 million, supplemented by Egyptian government contributions, donations, and partnerships.

Inside the entrance hall stands a colossal statue of Ramses II, while the museum’s collections exceed 57,000 artifacts documenting Egypt’s ancient civilization. The Grand Staircase alone covers 6,000 m²,  equivalent to the height of a six-story building, and leads to 12 main galleries, temporary exhibition halls, and the full Tutankhamun collection of over 5,000 objects displayed together for the first time since the tomb’s discovery in 1922.

The complex also features a children’s museum, artifacts belonging to Queen Hetepheres (mother of King Khufu), the Khufu Boat Museum, and displays from the Greek and Roman periods.

Architecturally, the museum’s design draws inspiration from sun rays converging from the three pyramids, forming a cone-shaped structure that appears as a “fourth pyramid” from above.

👑 The King attends the inauguration ceremony of the @EgyptMuseumGem in Cairo.
👷‍♀️ It was built by @BESIXOfficial 🇧🇪, in partnership with Orascom 🇪🇬, and is entirely dedicated to Ancient Egypt.
💫 Its official inauguration is enhanced by a video mapping show by Dirty Monitor 🇧🇪. pic.twitter.com/Bq3apxGvjS

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 1, 2025

The museum’s logo, selected through a UNESCO-supervised global design competition in 2018, mirrors the building’s geometry and aesthetic. The design reflects the warm orange hue of the desert sunset and the fluid motion of Arabic calligraphy shaped like dunes, symbolizing Egypt’s enduring connection between its ancient past and its modern cultural renaissance.  

Delays and regional tensions

The museum’s grand opening faced repeated delays, most recently in July due to regional instability, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The museum opens as concerns about artifact security persist. Two artifacts, including a 3,000-year-old pharaonic bracelet, were reportedly stolen in recent weeks. Past unrest, particularly during the 2011 events in the Arab world, also saw looting at archaeological sites.

Despite these concerns, Egypt is positioning the Grand Egyptian Museum as a global cultural landmark that merges its ancient legacy with future-facing infrastructure and tourism ambitions.

Read more: 4,300-year-old tomb of an ancient Egyptian dignitary unearthed