Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) welcomed large crowds of visitors on Tuesday morning, marking the first official day of public opening following an elaborate inauguration ceremony held on Saturday, November 1. The opening festivities, which extended over three days until Monday, November 3, drew significant local and international attention, highlighting the museum’s status as one of Egypt’s most ambitious cultural projects.
From the early hours, hundreds of Egyptian families and foreign tourists gathered at the museum’s vast entrance hall, where the colossal statue of King Ramses II greeted visitors. Many paused to take photographs in front of the iconic monument, which has become the centerpiece of the museum’s grand atrium. Tour guides led groups through the museum’s galleries, offering detailed explanations of the exhibits and the historical context behind Egypt’s ancient treasures.
Throughout the day, the museum received dozens of organized tour groups from a wide range of nationalities, alongside individual visitors and school groups. The scene inside the museum was vibrant and bustling, reflecting both curiosity and admiration for the long-awaited opening of what is now the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization.
The museum’s facilities include interactive screens and digital stations that allow guests to take souvenir photos and explore augmented-reality content related to the artifacts on display. The atrium and exhibition halls were filled with visitors documenting their experience through these high-tech installations, blending ancient history with modern innovation.
Ticket prices for entry have been set at 200 Egyptian pounds for Egyptian citizens, and 100 pounds for Egyptian students, children, and senior citizens. For foreign visitors, admission costs $25 (approximately 1,200 Egyptian pounds), while foreign students and children pay half that price, at 600 pounds.
Situated near the Giza Pyramids Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum is designed to showcase more than 100,000 artifacts, including the complete collection from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time since their discovery. The museum’s opening to the public marks a milestone in Egypt’s long-term strategy to boost tourism and preserve its rich cultural heritage.
Officials have described the opening as a new chapter in Egypt’s effort to position itself as a global center for archaeology and cultural tourism. With the initial public reception overwhelmingly positive, the Grand Egyptian Museum appears poised to become one of the most visited cultural landmarks in the Middle East.
