The inauguration date of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the new Egyptian museum of over 480 thousand square meters, is getting closer.
Located on the Giza plateau, the structure is set to become the largest museum complex in the world to house the treasures of Ancient Egypt. Finally, after more than 20 years of work, the wonderful construction of the land of the pharaohs is about to open its doors.
The story
Located just outside Cairo, just 2 km from the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is a pharaonic work that will house more than 100,000 archaeological finds. Its history began in 2002, following a worldwide architectural competition to design a new museum to house the precious Egyptian archaeological finds.
Although the first stone was laid in January 2002, work has suffered several interruptions over the years which have delayed its opening.
Construction officially began in 2005, but after several setbacks, it came to a complete halt in 2011 following the outbreak of the Arab Spring in Egypt.
After the stabilization of the Government in 2014, the works resumed also thanks to the help of international loans.
During this time, however, the project managers have moved the various works of interest to the area of the new Egyptian museum. For example, in 2006 the Statue of Rames II, 11 meters high and weighing 75 tons, was moved from Ramses Square in Cairo to the Giza plateau. This statue, in 2018, was placed at the entrance to the Museum.
Also in 2018, the last of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s chariots was transferred.
In April 2021, twenty-two mummies were transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the new museum complex in a lavish parade through the streets of the city.
The Grand Egyptian Museum was initially announced to open in May 2018, but in April of that year a fire of unknown cause broke out at the entrance to the museum.
Then, the pandemic slowed things down even further. As of today, it has been announced that the Grand Egyptian Museum will officially open in 2023.
The structure
The Grand Egyptian Museum was designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, a firm founded by Róisín Heneghan and Shih-Fu Peng in 1999 in New York and moved to Dublin in 2001. The British firms Buro Happold and Arup Group Limited, the Dutch firm West 8 and the German firm Atelier Brückner also participated in the works, in addition to the 4,000 workers on the construction sites.
The building was a challenge for its construction from several points of view, its modern architecture was designed to enhance the surrounding territory of the Giza plateau and is inspired by the characteristic monumentality of ancient Egyptian buildings. It is organized on a series of levels connected by a large staircase, from which you can access a glass and panoramic floor with a view of the nearby Pyramids of Giza.
The structure has the shape of a rounded triangle in plan, furthermore the north and south walls of the building align directly with the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of Menkaure.
In front of the GEM stands a large square, completely adorned with date palms.
One of the features that make the new Egyptian Museum in Cairo recognizable is certainly the translucent stone wall of the front facade of the building, made of Alabaster.
The main entrance, on the other hand, consists of a large atrium, through which you access the museum rooms.
The main hall for permanent exhibitions will be as big as four football fields.
Collections and events
When it opens, the Grand Egyptian Museum will house over 100,000 archaeological artifacts. Among the items that will be on display, more than 20,000 are pieces never seen before by the public, including the treasure of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which alone has over 5,000 pieces. The various areas of the museum and the objects it houses will illustrate the entire history of Ancient Egypt, from the Old Kingdom to the Roman Era.
In addition to the complete collection from Tutankhamun’s tomb and 5,398 artefacts transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a series of selected finds from the Egyptian museums of Luxor, Minya, Sohag, Assiut, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Delta and Alexandria will also be exhibited.
Another highlight of the collection will be the Solar Boat of Cheops, one of the oldest vessels in the world, dating back to 2500 BC.
In addition, the facility will also house a conservation center where the finds will be carefully studied and preserved.
The museum will lack nothing, including galleries, a library and a wing entirely dedicated to children, there will also be 28 shops, 10 restaurants, a cinema and a conference centre.
To visit every corner of the GEM you will have to wait for the inauguration, even if currently the museum is partially open to the public for small groups of visitors.
The sections that can be visited now are the Hall of the Suspended Obelisk, the Great Hall, the Glass Hall, gardens, restaurants, cafes and shops. In addition, it is possible to participate in a virtual reality experience.
The New Cairo Museum, by the way, has already hosted some special events. In January, in fact, the famous Egyptian soprano Fatma Said performed.
The singer was accompanied by the United Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by maestro Nader Abbassi.
Fatma Said was the first female artist to be allowed to exhibit at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The GEM also hosted the latest edition of Art Cairo. This is a contemporary Arab art fair, which this year took place between 11 and 14 February.
Among the latest events scheduled, it is worth mentioning the tenth edition of Rise Up, the largest business summit in the Middle East.
This year’s meeting will be particularly important, not only because it is the tenth year, but also and above all for the location. The choice to do it in the new Egyptian museum is not accidental, but serves to highlight the fundamental role of history: only through knowledge of the past can we build the future at its best.
The Rise Up Summit will be held March 16-18, 2023.
How to visit the Great Egyptian Museum
Unlike the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities located in central Cairo, in Tahrir Square, the newly built Grand Egyptian Museum is located outside the capital.
The building is in fact located just 2 km from the Pyramids of Giza, the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, precisely to signal the historical importance of the new museum complex.
Additionally, Sphinx International Airport is just 30 minutes away from the new facility.
The airport is a key element, as reaching the museum will be even easier. The whole world awaits the opening of the GEM with bated breath, especially after it has been postponed several times.
At the moment, the inauguration is scheduled for 2023 although a precise date has not yet been announced. The latest information, however, seems to suggest that it will be in October.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is a true paradise for enthusiasts and if you can’t wait to visit it, all you have to do is book a ticket at the official link of the new museum.
The Great Egyptian Museum is a new wonder that adds to the many wonders of the land of the pharaohs. If you want to discover the best of Egypt, Pazienza Tour Egypt offers many organized trips with guided tours in Italian. Contact us now!
