Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In response to overwhelming public demand, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has announced an extension of its visiting hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, allowing visitors to explore its galleries until 9:00 p.m. instead of 6:00 p.m. The decision comes after tickets for the newly opened museum repeatedly sold out, with the site reaching full visitor capacity just days after its grand inauguration.
According to an official statement issued on Saturday, the museum authority said the move aims to “accommodate the unprecedented number of visitors from Egypt, the Arab world, and abroad, and to provide more opportunities for guests to enjoy the museum’s extensive collections.”
Under the new schedule, regular visiting hours from Sunday through Friday will remain from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 5:00 p.m. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the museum will now stay open until 9:00 p.m., and ticket sales will close at 8:00 p.m.
Online Booking Becomes Mandatory on Peak Days
Following the surge in demand, the museum has also introduced new measures to regulate visitor flow. Ticket purchases for Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays will now be available exclusively through the museum’s official website, rather than at on-site ticket counters.
The decision follows several days of crowding at the museum entrance, where the visitor count exceeded operational capacity. On Friday, the museum temporarily suspended in-person ticket sales after all available online bookings were sold out, highlighting the scale of public enthusiasm for the long-awaited cultural landmark.
Officials confirmed that online reservations will remain the only method of entry during high-traffic days to ensure a smooth visitor experience and adherence to safety standards.
A Monumental Project and a Cultural Milestone
The Grand Egyptian Museum, located just a few kilometers from the Pyramids of Giza, officially opened in early November with an inaugural ceremony attended by global leaders, dignitaries, and cultural figures. Spanning over 490,000 square meters, the museum is the largest archaeological institution in the world dedicated to a single civilization.
Its vast collection exceeds 100,000 artifacts, including the complete treasures of Pharaoh Tutankhamun — displayed together for the first time, as well as the colossal statue of Ramses II, weighing 83 tons, which greets visitors in the museum’s grand atrium.
Since its opening, the museum has witnessed record-breaking attendance, with thousands queuing daily to enter. The surge has led to long lines and limited time for visitors to fully appreciate the exhibits, prompting the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to extend operating hours as part of its broader strategy to strengthen Egypt’s position as a hub for cultural and luxury tourism.
A Symbol of Egypt’s Cultural Renaissance
Seen as one of the most ambitious cultural projects in modern history, the Grand Egyptian Museum not only preserves Egypt’s ancient heritage but also embodies the country’s renewed investment in tourism and global engagement.
By extending its hours and refining visitor management, Egypt signals its readiness to welcome the world offering more time for travelers and citizens alike to experience the wonders of ancient civilization in a modern setting that redefines the museum experience for the 21st century.
