Cairo will inaugurate the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday, officially launching this spectacular cultural effort. Authorities widely present the GEM as the crowning jewel in their expansive drive to overhaul the country’s essential and vital tourism industry. Consequently, the government has invested significant time and money into making this project successful.
From its vast structure, the GEM offers a panoramic, sweeping view of the famous Giza pyramids plateau, drawing a direct line between ancient and modern Egypt. This mammoth facility houses thousands of priceless artifacts, spanning more than 5,000 years of Egyptian antiquity, requiring an astonishing investment of over $1 billion. Moreover, this ultra-modern museum, which required more than two decades of dedicated construction, anticipates welcoming approximately five million global visitors annually, promising never-before-seen relics on comprehensive display.
A New Chapter for Egyptian Civilization
In the run-up to this momentous grand opening, Egyptian media and official government statements have universally hailed the event as a truly “historic moment.” Describing the facility glowingly, officials now call the museum “Egypt’s gift to the world” and a symbol of “a new chapter in the history of Egyptian civilization.” However, preparations for the much-delayed inauguration have been conspicuously shrouded in secrecy, creating a sense of anticipation worldwide.
Authorities have deliberately avoided naming the specific dignitaries who will attend, but they previously promised to host a significant gathering of “kings, princes, heads of state, and government leaders.” Furthermore, organizers remain tight-lipped regarding the new, highly anticipated display for the iconic gold mask of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun, adding mystery to the opening ceremony. Starting Tuesday, the museum will then welcome regular visitors who can view 4,500 of about 5,000 funerary objects previously scattered across various locations.
Emphasizing National Importance
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi convened a high-level meeting on Saturday, specifically dedicated to advancing final preparations for the eagerly awaited inauguration, according to a recent official statement. During the critical meeting, Al-Sisi urged enhanced inter-agency coordination to hold the opening ceremony “in a manner befitting Egypt’s position,” clearly reflecting its cultural leadership. Ultimately, this ambitious approach should significantly contribute to further promoting tourism in the country.
Consequently, the official statement strongly emphasized the GEM’s powerful symbolic dimension, which is entirely set to become an international cultural and scientific hub. During a final inspection visit to the complex on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly asserted the massive event clearly reflected Egypt’s critical role “as a cradle of civilization and a global leader in culture and museum innovation.”
Delays and Economic Recovery
Authorities initially planned the inauguration for 3 July, but a regional conflict necessitated postponement when Israel attacked Iran on 13 June, causing a 12-day war that closed airspace across much of the Middle East. Even before this geopolitical crisis, the ambitious project had already endured a series of significant setbacks, specifically including political unrest and the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Seeking to reach the widest possible audience, the Egyptian state-linked conglomerate United Media Services announced a key strategic partnership with the social media platform TikTok. This collaboration specifically seeks to “share Egypt’s unparalleled civilizational story with audiences across the globe,” ensuring widespread international exposure.
Following years of painful instability, Egypt’s vital tourism industry, which directly accounts for about 10 percent of the country’s entire workforce, has been strongly recovering. For instance, in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, tourism revenues stood at an impressive $14.4 billion, representing a substantial 34.6% increase compared to the previous year’s performance.
Around 15 million international tourists visited Egypt during the first nine months of 2025, accounting for $12.5 billion in revenues and marking a strong 21% increase over the same period last year.
