Some of its facilities have been accessible since 2023, but now the entire collection will finally be open to visitors.
The façade of the Grand Egyptian Museum is 1 kilometre long and, as can be seen in the photo, contains clear references to the architecture of Giza.
The date is approaching, as indicated by the countdown clock that the Grand Egyptian Museum has placed on its website. The opening of this institution, which promises to offer the public a vast collection of artefacts, is a milestone in the field of museum conservation: its educational spaces and the integration of interactive technology project the country as a cultural superpower.
It is not surprising, then, that the run-up to the grand opening, scheduled for 1 November 2025, is being met with excitement and enormous anticipation both inside and outside Egypt. What’s more, the moment has been a long time coming: the initial plan was for it to open ten years ago. Then the date was moved to 2018. And now, at last, it seems that everything is ready to see the museum in all its splendour.
The main reason for these delays has been related to the political situation in the country: in 2011, the outbreak of the Arab Spring halted construction of the museum, and later, regional tensions coupled with a decline in tourism—which, of course, led to a significant loss of revenue—caused the opening to be postponed until today. As National Geographic points out, ‘it is estimated that the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza took between 15 and 30 years. The GEM has been in the works for 23.’
Political unrest in Egypt is one of the main causes of the delay in the museum’s opening. Construction began back in 2004, and in the last 20 years, the country has experienced numerous internal conflicts, including the so-called Arab Spring (2010-2012).
What can we expect from the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Firstly, it should be noted that the Grand Egyptian Museum’s website has a button that allows visitors to book tickets, as it is now possible to access some of its facilities.
That said, National Geographic can confirm, as we have done on other occasions, that a visit to this museum – possible from 4 November – is well worth it. The museum will display around 45,000 pieces, of which some 5,000 correspond to the golden treasures of Tutankhamun: it will be the first time that all of them have been together in one place since their discovery in 1922 by Howard Carter.
The tour is undoubtedly interesting because of the value of the items on display, but also because of the ingenious layout of the spaces: the building matters. The Grand Egyptian Museum has Main Galleries, a Grand Hall – where the statue of Ramses II stands – its emblematic Grand Staircase (these three areas are already open to the public), the Tutankhamun galleries and the Museum of the Ships of Cheops, as well as a shopping area and outdoor gardens.
Egypt prepares
The event deserves institutional preparation to match, and this is what the Egyptian authorities have been working on to date. Bearing in mind, for example, that the top of the Grand Staircase offers a beautiful view of the Pyramids of Giza, this iconic archaeological site has also undergone changes: its facilities now include a new visitor centre and a bus line around its perimeter.
Not surprisingly, the Egyptian government expects the opening of the museum to generate an increase in tourism of at least 30 million by 2028: to give us an idea, in 2024, the figure was 15.7 million tourists (incidentally, a historic record for the country).
