Cairo: The grand opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) took place on Saturday night, November 1, local time. The event featured performances by renowned Egyptian singers and an international orchestra, as well as a light and sound drone show. In a speech, President al-Sisi said that Egypt was writing a new chapter in the present and future history of this ancient country, as it is the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization in the world. The Egyptian leader and his wife then led heads of state on a tour of the museum.
According to Thai News Agency, overlooking the Giza pyramid complex about two kilometers away, the 500,000-square-meter museum houses tens of thousands of artifacts, including the complete collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures, many of which are on display for the first time since his tomb was discovered in 1922. It also incorporates virtual reality technology and displays, unlike the outdated Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, which dates back to the previous century.
Egypt announced the museum project in 1992, with construction beginning in 2005 and completion expected in 2023. The project will cost $1.2 billion, with a trial opening scheduled for October 2024 and an official opening ceremony held last night. Egyptian officials believe the museum will attract an additional 7 million tourists a year, bringing total visitor numbers to around 30 million by 2030.