On November 1st local time, the Grand Egyptian Museum, which took 20 years to construct, held its opening ceremony and officially opened its doors to the public in full on November 4th. Located near the Giza Pyramids scenic area in Cairo, this museum is the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization, hailed by its director Ahmed Ghoneim as “Egypt’s Fourth Pyramid.”
The museum’s construction journey was fraught with twists and turns. Egyptian government launched a global design competition as early as 2002, with Ireland’s Heneghan Peng Architects winning the bid. Construction officially began in 2005, with a total investment of 1.1 billion US dollars and a floor area of approximately 500,000 square meters. However, the project suffered multiple delays due to environmental, financial, political factors and the COVID-19 pandemic. After several adjustments to the opening plan, it finally ushered in full opening in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The museum’s collection is stunning, boasting over 100,000 artifacts. The most eye-catching are the 5,992 burial objects of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, displayed in a complete and centralized manner for the first time. These include the golden mask inlaid with lapis lazuli and glass, a golden throne, and chariots, with some exhibits being publicly exhibited for the first time since their excavation last century. In addition, the restored 4,500-year-old Khufu Solar Boat and the 3,200-year-old 11-meter-high colossus of Ramses II also made their debut simultaneously.
The museum’s design combines modernity with historical heritage. Its limestone facade is inlaid with pyramid-shaped patterns, and the interior centers on a grand atrium and a minimalist-style grand staircase. As visitors climb the stairs, they can admire artifacts such as statues and sarcophagi in sequence, with an observation platform at the end offering a distant view of the Giza Pyramids. The 12 exhibition halls cover the prehistoric period to the Greco-Roman era in chronological order, with “society,” “royal power,” and “belief” as vertical themes. Through open spaces and transparent display cases, it creates a rich visual experience, and restores the daily lives of ancient craftsmen and writers through exhibits such as tools and documents.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated at the opening ceremony that this building is a testament to the wisdom of the Egyptian people and even more a gift to the world. As part of the latest architecture news, Director Ghoneim emphasized that the museum will reshape Egypt’s tourism landscape and promote the development of cultural tourism. Currently, new airports, hotels, and leisure facilities have been built around the museum, providing a great opportunity for global tourists to experience ancient Egyptian civilization up close. Notably, November 4th is not only the official opening day of the museum but also the 103rd anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, endowing this cultural event with special significance.
