The Great Egyptian Museum (GEM), as it is rightly named, because it will house the largest and most complex collection of ancient treasures and artifacts in the world, is due to open on November 1. The previous opening, originally scheduled for July 2, was postponed due to conflicts between Israel and Iran, Bloomberg reports.
It was the nation’s president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who announced the new inauguration date of the GEM, which is just a mile from the pyramids of Giza. Government officials are starting to prepare for the event. And Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly called the opening “an exceptional event” in a cabinet meeting.
The Great Egyptian Museum has been awaited for almost two decades
The new institution has been long awaited due to political turmoil and delays related to Covid-19. About 20 years ago, the Egyptian government held an international competition to decide who would take over the reins of the museum’s design. Dublin-based firm Heneghan Peng Architects won, creating a space spread over 48.56 hectares to house a wealth of ancient finds.
This includes 100,000 artifacts, one of which will be the famous tomb of King Tutankhamun. The entire collection of Tut’s tomb will be on display for the first time since its discovery in 1922. And a massive 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II will stand right at the entrance. The museum will also house an exhibition space, a library, a children’s museum and an educational center.
“This is going to be the museum of the 21st century,” CEO Tarek Tawfik told CNN in 2019. “All the means of modern technology have been considered to make this an unforgettable experience for the visitor, but at the same time to provide the best possible environment for the artifacts.”
GEM is expected to attract 5 million visitors annually to the region. Just before opening, however, Egypt is expected to see a record 18 million tourists this year, according to Bloomberg. The nation has also provided $30 million to improve the tourist experience around the pyramids of Giza.
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