The Great Egyptian Museum is on the verge of opening near the Giza pyramids. It is set to be the largest archaeological site in the world dedicated to a single civilization. According to The Guardian,
the museum will open on Saturday, November 1, 2025, close to Cairo.
The construction faced several delays due to various circumstances, including conflicts in the Middle East. World leaders are expected to attend the opening alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Located just a kilometer from the pyramids, the museum will cover an area of 470,000 square meters.
Museum director Ahmed Ghoneim stated that the halls will be equipped with projectors and virtual reality technologies to engage younger audiences:
"We use the language of Generation Z, as they do not favor outdated tools that older generations prefer".
The museum is anticipated to welcome 15,000 to 20,000 visitors daily.
Of the total area, 24,000 square meters will be allocated for a permanent exhibition, children's areas, conference rooms, and educational spaces. A center for the preservation of archaeological artifacts is also planned.
The main galleries will showcase artifacts from prehistoric times to the Roman era, categorized by themes and periods.
The museum will house over 50,000 exhibits, including the 83-ton, 3,200-year-old colossus of Ramses II and a 4,500-year-old boat belonging to Pharaoh Khufu, who is credited with the construction of the pyramids.
Some artifacts have been provided to the new museum by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, while others were recently discovered in ancient burial sites, including the Saqqara necropolis, which is another complex of pyramids and tombs located about 20 kilometers from the museum.

The Importance of the Museum in Egypt

The construction of the complex was announced in 1992, but actual work started in 2005. Some sections were opened in 2024.
This complex is part of a significant infrastructure project in Egypt, which includes a new metro system and an airport that began operations in 2020.
The Great Egyptian Museum is seen as a strategic investment in cultural tourism for Africa's second-largest economy. Visitor numbers significantly dropped during the Arab Spring in 2011 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Official data shows that in 2024, Egypt welcomed a record 15.7 million tourists, and the government aims to double this figure by 2032.