Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A recent public outcry over crowding at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has ignited a national debate over visitor access, prompting an Egyptian lawmaker to call for an end to the museum’s ticket quota system.
Earlier this month, Member of Parliament Freddy Elbaiady sharply criticized the policy that allocates tickets separately to Egyptian nationals and foreign tourists. The system divides the museum’s daily cap of 20,000 tickets into roughly 60 percent for Egyptians and 40 percent for international visitors, according to GEM chief executive Ahmed Ghoneim.
The controversy escalated in early November when photos and videos spread across social media showing thousands of visitors stranded outside the museum, spilling onto the Giza Plateau after being denied entry. Ghoneim later explained in a televised statement that more than 27,000 tickets, significantly above the daily limit had been sold that day, triggering a breakdown in crowd control. He pledged to review the underlying policies that contributed to what officials described as a momentary but serious logistical failure.
GEM, a $1 billion cultural landmark whose long-awaited public opening took place earlier this month, is one of the largest museums in the world. Its 968,000-square-foot complex showcases more than 7,000 years of Egyptian history and includes an 80,000-square-foot gallery devoted entirely to the 5,600 objects recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. The museum’s debut was attended by dozens of foreign dignitaries, underscoring its importance as both a national symbol and a global attraction.
Against this backdrop, Elbaiady took to Facebook on November 15 to demand an urgent explanation from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy regarding the quota system, describing the policy as “not normal and unacceptable.” A day later, he submitted a formal request in Parliament to abolish the quota altogether.
Elbaiady emphasized that his objection was not to differential ticket pricing, a practice he acknowledged as common worldwide. Ticket prices currently stand at 200 Egyptian pounds (about $4.20) for Egyptian adults and 1,450 Egyptian pounds (about $30.40) for foreigners. Instead, he argued that the system effectively disadvantages Egyptian citizens. “There is no country that respects its citizens by saying: ‘Sorry, there is no place for Egyptians; we have finished your share,’ while foreigners walk in as usual,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
Although GEM officials have not formally addressed the MP’s request, the museum has already begun overhauling its admissions process. Last week, it introduced a pre-booking system with timed entry slots in an effort to prevent overcrowding. Beginning December 1, online reservations will become the sole method for purchasing tickets, a move intended to regulate visitor flow and avoid a repeat of the November incident.
The dispute over quotas has tapped into broader questions about how Egypt should balance its cultural heritage as both a national treasure and a vital tourism asset. As the Grand Egyptian Museum settles into its first months of operation, policymakers and cultural leaders appear to be navigating the delicate task of maintaining accessibility for Egyptians while managing the international demand that has surged since the museum’s opening.
