Egypt opens Grand Museum, fully showcasing Tutankhamun’s tomb

(MENAFN) Egypt has officially opened the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, presenting what it aims to be a landmark of contemporary cultural heritage.

Touted as the world’s largest archaeological museum, the GEM houses around 100,000 artefacts spanning some 7,000 years, from pre-dynastic periods to the Greek and Roman eras.

One of the museum’s main attractions is the complete display of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, presenting all its contents together for the first time since British Egyptologist Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery. This includes the iconic golden mask, throne, and chariots of the boy king. “I had to think, how can we show him in a different way, because since the discovery of the tomb in 1922, about 1,800 pieces from a total of over 5,500 that were inside the tomb were on display,” said Dr. Tarek Tawfik, president of the International Association of Egyptologists and former head of the GEM. “I had the idea of displaying the complete tomb, which means nothing remains in storage, nothing remains in other museums, and you get to have the complete experience, the way Howard Carter had it over a hundred years ago.”

Costing approximately $1.2 billion, the museum is expected to draw up to eight million visitors annually, providing a significant boost to Egypt’s tourism industry, which has faced setbacks due to regional crises. “We hope the Grand Egyptian Museum will usher in a new golden age of Egyptology and cultural tourism,” said Ahmed Seddik, a local guide and aspiring Egyptologist.

In addition to Tutankhamun, the museum features the 4,500-year-old funerary boat of Khufu, one of the oldest and best-preserved vessels from antiquity. Many of the GEM’s galleries have been open since last year, but the full Tutankhamun collection will now elevate the museum’s appeal globally.

Visitors expressed excitement over the opening. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Sam from London, while Raúl, a Spanish tourist, called the exhibit an “absolute must-see.”

The new facility, covering 500,000 square meters, includes an alabaster-covered exterior, a pyramid-shaped entrance, a giant staircase lined with statues of ancient kings and queens, and an upper floor with a framed view of the Giza pyramids. Key highlights include a 16-meter-long obelisk and an 11-meter-high statue of Ramesses II, relocated from central Cairo.

Proposed in 1992 and under construction since 2005, the museum’s completion was delayed by financial crises, political upheaval, the Covid-19 pandemic, and regional conflicts.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian tourism and antiquities minister, described the opening as a personal dream fulfilled, noting it highlights the achievements of Egyptian archaeologists alongside international counterparts. “It was my dream. I'm really happy to see this museum is finally opened!” he said.

Dr. Hawass has also renewed calls for the return of key Egyptian artefacts held abroad, including the Rosetta Stone in London, the Dendera Zodiac in Paris, and the Nefertiti Bust in Berlin. “We need the three objects to come as a good feeling from these three countries, as a gift, as Egypt gave the world many gifts,” he emphasized.

The GEM is positioned to become a global cultural hub, celebrating Egypt’s rich heritage while asserting its role in ongoing discussions over repatriation of antiquities.

MENAFN02112025000045017640ID1110282573