Egypt bets on Cairo's Grand Egyptian...

World’s largest archaeological museum to officially open 3 July 2025

There are plenty of reasons to visit Egypt in 2025, chief among them the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that is expected to provide a significant boost to the nation’s crucial tourism industry.

Currently in soft-opening mode, the world’s largest archaeological museum complex will fully open its doors on 3 July 2025, Egypt’s prime minister Mostafa Madbouly has announced.

After two decades of work, and 11 years after the original proposed opening date, the US$1 billion museum complex aims to attract 5 million visitors annually.

Located around 2km from the Giza pyramids, making it easy for visitors to travel between the two, the sprawling museum complex fronted by an alabaster and glass facade is huge.

GEM features 100,000 artifacts

Spread across nearly 19,000 square metres, GEM is home to more than 100,000 artifacts spanning 700,000 years of history, from pharaonic civilisation through to the more modern ancient Greek and Roman periods.

The US$1 billion museum complex aims to attract 15,000 visitors a day, and more than 5 million annually

Many artifacts have been transferred from the current Egyptian Museum, but also from elsewhere, such as the enormous 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II that had previously stood in the middle of a traffic circle in Cairo.

Already open, the 12 exhibition halls explore Egypt’s rich history, from prehistoric times to the Roman era. There are grinding stones from the Palaeolithic period, towering statues belonging to the New Kingdom and Roman busts from the Greco-Roman era.

Even the Grand Staircase, the main gateway to the galleries, is lined with hundreds of pieces.

From 3 July, and for the first time ever, King Tut’s entire treasure collection – around 5,000 items – will also be on display.

Visitors can also already explore the Children’s Museum, outdoor gardens, restaurants, cafes and shops.

From 3 July, King Tut’s entire treasure collection will also be on display

With the museum expected to draw 15,000 visitors a day, and the Cairo government targeting 30 million annual tourists by 2032, hotels are springing up all over the city.

Recently opened properties include Hyatt’s first “art-centric” property, the Hyatt Centric Cairo West, the 615-key Sofitel Cairo Downtown Nile, which is the largest Sofitel in the world, and the Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi, offering views of iconic landmarks including the Nile and the Pyramids.

Looking ahead, Marriott plans to convert a historic government building in downtown Cairo into a 500-key Autograph Collection Hotel with a rooftop pool overlooking Tahrir Square, with views of the Nile and the Giza Pyramids in the distance.

Egypt welcomed a record 15.78 million tourists in 2024, growing 6% on the previous year.

For more information, visit grandegyptianmuseum.org

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