Assalamu Alaikum - Grand Egyptian Museum opens in Cairo
Assalamu Alaikum, brothers and sisters. Cairo opened the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, a multi-billion pound showcase of pharaonic heritage that Egypt hopes will help revive tourism and strengthen the economy.
The museum, about 2 km from the Great Pyramid in Giza, hosted what officials called “a night to remember.” After many years of waiting, delays, and careful preparation, the inauguration feels like an important moment in Egypt’s cultural and tourist story.
Seventy-nine delegations, including 39 heads of state and government, were expected at the opening. Representatives came from countries such as Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain and Denmark. Japan provided financial and technical support for building the museum, which covers nearly half a million square metres.
The collection holds over 100,000 artefacts, with roughly half planned for display, making it the largest collection focused on a single civilisation, according to Egyptian officials.
Inside, visitors step into vast, light-filled halls with high ceilings and sand-coloured stone walls that reflect the nearby desert. Notable pieces include a colossal statue of Ramses II in the atrium, a hanging obelisk honoring the same king, and a “Journey to Eternity” staircase lined with statues of gods and pharaohs.
For many who have waited decades, the opening is both a celebration and a moment to reflect on Egypt’s history and identity. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said the museum will bring together the genius of ancient Egyptians and the creativity of modern Egyptians, creating a new landmark that will attract those who value civilisation and knowledge.
A former culture minister recalls how the idea began after a sharp remark by an Italian publisher in Paris, which spurred the decision to plan a grand new museum near the pyramids. What started as a heated promise in 1992 eventually grew into this project.
In recent years, tourism in Egypt has been recovering, with 15 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025 and revenues of $12.5 billion, up 21% from a year earlier. May this new museum be a source of pride and benefit for the country and its people. Jazakum Allahu khairan for reading.
https://www.thenationalnews.co