A trove of golden treasures and antiquities detailing life in ancient Egypt will go on public display at Cairo’s record-breaking new museum.
Located in the shadow of the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum will be the world’s largest dedicated to a single civilisation, containing 50,000 artefacts.
Monarchs, world leaders and heads of state are set to attend the grand opening ceremony, with the Egyptian presidency touting it as “an exceptional event in the history of human culture and civilisation”.
Preparations for the grand reveal at the billion-dollar museum have been shrouded in secrecy, but visitors will no doubt be keen for a glimpse of the iconic relics from the glittering tomb of boy-king Tutankhamun.
The museum, which has been open for limited visits over the past couple of years, has been closed for the last two weeks.
Tourists stand at the feet of Pharaoh Ramses II. Pic: AP
What’s in the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Visitors will pass through a towering glass facade that echoes the nearby pyramids to reach the atrium and the 24,000 square meters (258,000 square feet) of permanent exhibition space beyond.
From there, a grand six-storey staircase lined with ancient statues leads up to the main galleries and a view of the nearby pyramids.
The museum’s 12 main galleries contain artefacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Roman era.
Visitors pose for a group photo under a statue of Queen Hatshepsut. Pic: AP
Two halls are dedicated to the 5,000 artefacts from the collection of King Tutankhamun, which will be displayed in its entirety for the first time since British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered it in 1922 in the southern city of Luxor.
Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s most renowned archaeologist and former minister of antiquities, said the collection of Tutankhamun is the masterpiece of the museum.
“Why this museum is so important, and everyone is waiting for the opening?” he said. “Because of Tutankhamun.”
The original exhibition Tutankhamun exhibition has toured the world – but the contents of his tomb are now on display in their entirety for the first time in a century. Pic: AP
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Hope for tourism boost
The Egyptian government hopes the museum will draw more tourists – and the foreign currency that comes with them.
The tourism sector has suffered during years of political turmoil and violence following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
In recent years, the sector has started to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and the effects of Russia’s war on Ukraine – both countries are major sources of tourists visiting Egypt.
By 2032, the government hopes to almost double the 15.7 million tourists who visited the country in 2024.
The museum will be open to the public from Tuesday.
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