Egypt’s government has set an opening date for the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, which is now set to welcome the public on 1 November.
The opening comes after several logistical, political and financial delays, but the museum has confirmed that preparations are now underway for a launch event.
Via an Instagram post, the opening will be “marked by international attendance and special cultural activations, celebrating Egypt’s timeless heritage on a global stage”.
Egypt’s prime minister Moustafa Madbouly told a cabinet meeting that the country’s president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had approved the new opening date, Arab News reports.
He said the opening will be “an exceptional event” showcasing Egypt’s cultural heritage.
The Grand Egyptian Museum soft opened to the public in October 2024, with a full opening then scheduled for 3 July. However, this was pushed back in June due to regional tensions.
When it debuts in full after almost two decades of development, the Grand Egyptian Museum will be the largest institution in the world dedicated to a single civilisation.
New museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian history
The $1 billion venue will house a collection of more than 100,000 artefacts across 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.
Highlights include the Tutankhamun collection, which will have its own exhibition space to showcase all 5,600 objects retrieved from the pharaoh’s tomb.
Atef Moftah, general director of the Grand Egyptian Museum project, previously said the new institution will be “a gift to humanity”.
Egyptian authorities expect the new museum to attract 5 million annual visitors.
Images courtesy of the Grand Egyptian Museum
