Egypt unveils Grand Egyptian Museum, a modern marvel near the Great Pyramid

Egypt unveils Grand Egyptian Museum, a modern marvel near the Great Pyramid

Egypt officially inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday, a monumental cultural project situated near the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. Billed as the world's largest archaeological museum, the $1.2 billion institution houses roughly 100,000 artifacts, spanning seven millennia of Egyptian history-from pre-dynastic eras to Greco-Roman times.

The museum's opening marks a pivotal moment for Egyptology, with experts arguing it bolsters calls for the repatriation of key antiquities, including the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum, the Dendera Zodiac from the Louvre, and the Bust of Nefertiti from Berlin. Egyptian officials and archaeologists frame the GEM as proof of the nation's capability to preserve and showcase its heritage independently.

The Tutankhamun spectacle: A tomb reunited

Among the GEM's crown jewels is the complete collection of Tutankhamun's tomb, displayed in its entirety for the first time since its 1922 discovery by Howard Carter. The exhibit includes the boy king's golden death mask, throne, chariots, and 5,500-plus artifacts-none of which will remain in storage.

"I wanted visitors to experience the tomb as Carter did," said Dr. Tarek Tawfik, former GEM director and president of the International Association of Egyptologists. "Now, nothing is hidden. The full context of Tutankhamun's burial is restored."

"The Grand Egyptian Museum will usher in a new golden age of Egyptology and cultural tourism."

Ahmed Seddik, tour guide and aspiring Egyptologist

A boost for tourism and national pride

The museum's launch arrives as Egypt seeks to revive its tourism sector, battered by regional conflicts and the pandemic. With capacity for 8 million annual visitors, the GEM's 500,000-square-meter complex-adorned with hieroglyphs and translucent alabaster-dwarfs its predecessor, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which visitors often described as "chaotic."

Key attractions include:

• A 4,500-year-old funerary boat of Khufu, one of antiquity's best-preserved vessels.
• Ramesses II's 16-meter suspended obelisk and 11-meter statue, relocated from Cairo in 2006.
• A grand staircase lined with statues of pharaohs and queens, culminating in a panoramic view of the Giza pyramids.

"The old museum was overwhelming. The GEM promises a clearer, more immersive experience."

British tourist, previously visited the Egyptian Museum

Decades in the making: A project fraught with delays

First proposed in 1992 under President Hosni Mubarak, the GEM's construction began in 2005 but faced repeated setbacks: the 2011 Arab Spring, financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and regional instability. Its completion nearly mirrors the timeline of the Great Pyramid's construction, according to estimates.

"This was my dream," said Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former antiquities minister. "It proves Egyptians are equals in excavation, preservation, and curation. Now, we demand the return of our stolen treasures-not as restitution, but as gifts to a nation that has given the world so much."

Repatriation debates reignited

The GEM's opening has amplified calls for the return of three iconic artifacts:

• The Rosetta Stone (British Museum), seized as war booty after its 1799 discovery by French troops.
• The Dendera Zodiac (Louvre), removed from a temple in 1821 by a French team.
• The Bust of Nefertiti (Berlin), allegedly smuggled out of Egypt in the early 20th century.

Dr. Hawass has launched petitions-garnering hundreds of thousands of signatures-urging their return. The British Museum, however, stated it has received "no formal requests" from Egypt for the Rosetta Stone's repatriation or loan.

"These objects were taken under colonialist pretexts. The GEM sends a message: Egypt has earned the right to reclaim its heritage."

Dr. Monica Hanna, Egyptologist

A hub for research and discovery

Beyond tourism, the GEM is positioned as a global center for Egyptological research. Egyptian conservators have already restored delicate artifacts, including Tutankhamun's leather-and-textile armor, under a law reserving such work for local experts.

"Colleagues worldwide are stunned by the conservation quality," said Dr. Tawfik. "This museum isn't just about ancient Egypt-it's a testament to modern Egypt's achievements."

Public access to the Tutankhamun collection begins 4 November 2025.