CAIRO—Egypt unveiled a series of galleries to the public on Tuesday at its new flagship museum. However, the famous King Tutankhamun collection and solar boats from the Pyramid of Khufu are still awaiting their grand inauguration, which has been delayed for a long time.
After more than 20 years of construction, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) located next to the pyramids of Giza was supposed to open in 2012 but faced delays due to cost overruns and political unrest.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly recently announced a “trial opening” before the official inauguration. While several world leaders have shown interest in attending the grand opening, the date has not been set yet.
In February 2023, the museum’s main entrance hall featuring Pharaonic statues and a commercial shopping annex welcomed visitors.
Ali Abu Dshish, a member of the Egyptian Archaeologists Union, who attended the opening of nearly a dozen galleries, mentioned that the trial operation of the museum demonstrates Egypt’s capability to showcase its antiquities, including those being repatriated by Western countries and museums.
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Russian tourist Kseniia Muse, who visited the museum, expressed her joy, stating, “We are so happy to be here, to have visited these beautiful sculptures…It is very modern and at the same time you can touch the ancient.”
Tourism plays a vital role in Egypt’s economy, generating foreign currency revenue. The government has been working to boost tourism numbers after facing currency shortages exacerbated by external factors.
Up until now, Egypt’s most renowned collections were housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which has remained largely unchanged since its opening in 1902.
