Egypt’s $1 billion museum finally opens after two decades

The highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) showcases Tutankhamen’s full tomb for the first time.

After 20 years of interrupted building, the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation fully opened to the public last weekend. Located approximately two kilometres from the Giza Pyramid Complex, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) spans an impressive 24,000 square metres across six floors, housing 100,000 artefacts that tell the story of ancient Egypt. 

The imposing entrance of the museum.

The opening of the largest archaeological museum in the world, which cost some $1.2 billion, was delayed several times due to the pandemic and political instability and uncertainty. Conceived by Irish architectural firm Heneghan Peng Architects, the monumental building features a triangular glass structure, soaring ceilings and sand-coloured stone walls that echo the surrounding landscape. At the heart of the museum is an 83-tonne statue of Ramses II, Egypt’s most celebrated and successful ruler, who reigned during the 19th Dynasty from 1279 to 1213 BC. Visitors will also be treated to spectacular views out to the pyramids. 

At the heart of the museum is an 83-tonne statue of Ramses II. (Image: Getty/heinstirred)

The most prominent attraction within the museum, however, is the full contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb, which haven’t been displayed together since its discovery in 1922. Visitors will have the chance to view the boy-king’s burial mask, throne, sarcophagus and more than 5,000 objects.

The museum also features immersive galleries, precision lighting, virtual-reality exhibits and a children’s museum. 

Visitors will get to see the full contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb. (Image: Getty/ JoseIgnacioSoto)

The GEM’s Grand Stairs is lined with massive and beautifully carved statues of Egyptian kings and queens, while the Khufu’s Boats Museum displays two large wooden boats that were buried near the Great Pyramid of Giza and were built by Pharaoh Khufu’s who reigned around 2589–2566 BC during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty. Two fine dining restaurants with uninterrupted views of the Pyramids are set to open soon.

The museum is expected to significantly boost tourism to Giza.(Image: Getty/Alexander Farnsworth)

There is hope that the new museum will encourage the return of stolen Egyptian artefacts that were illegally exported, looted or smuggled out of Egypt, with the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities and other Egyptian authorities actively working to reclaim them. The Netherlands recently announced that it will return a stolen 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt.

The opening of GEM marks a major milestone in the celebration and preservation of geological and mineralogical heritage and is expected to significantly boost tourism to Giza.