The Grand Egyptian Museum is opening in full—here’s what you need to know

The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo has been heralded as one of the biggest cultural openings of the year. Located near the Pyramids of Giza, this cultural colossus is the world’s largest institution dedicated to a single civilisation, with almost 872,000sq feet of floor space displaying tens of thousands of artefacts. Its opening date was planned for well over a decade ago, then shifted to 2018 and beyond, with a phased launch adding to the timeline. Now, it seems finally ready to open in its entirety in November.

What’s caused the delays?

Much has been outside of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)’s control. Plans for the museum were first announced in 1992, with the foundation stone laid a decade later by then-President Hosni Mubarak. The Arab Spring uprising in 2011 threw him out of office, and a military coup a few years later changed the government yet again. The subsequent drop in tourist numbers meant a loss of income for the government, which then worked to secure loans of nearly US$1bn (£740m) to help finance construction. The Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing wars in neighbouring countries meant further delays.

Earlier this year, 3 July 2025 was announced as the official opening date — the first time a specific day had been picked — but this was later postponed to 1 November due to regional tensions. Consider this: construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza is estimated to have taken between 15 and 30 years. The GEM has now been in the works for 23.

What can I expect?

The November opening promises to unveil the entire 5,000-piece collection of golden treasures unearthed with Tutankhamun in one place for the first time since the discovery of the pharaoh’s tomb back in 1922. In total, the GEM has 12 main galleries of displays that chart the country’s history both chronologically and thematically.

Before reaching the galleries, located on the upper floor, visitors take a grand staircase punctuated with large statues and sculptures, culminating in a view of the Pyramids of Giza framed by floor-to-ceiling windows.

Were parts already open?

Yes. Limited tours of the GEM’s Grand Hall, home to the colossal 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, started in 2023. The GEM then had a soft opening in October 2024, which allowed access to most of its main galleries, but not the treasures of Tutankhamun or the solar barques — ancient royal boats found buried near the Great Pyramid of Khufu (formerly housed in a museum next to the pyramid until it closed in 2021).

What will happen to the old Egyptian Museum?

Many of the GEM’s artefacts, including its star display of Tutankhamun’s 23-carat gold death mask, were sourced from the Egyptian Museum. It still has plenty of exhibits, but Mosheira Aboghalia, a Cairo-based Egyptologist and tour guide, said that she and some other local guides wondered about its future; they believe it might change function. While the Egyptian government hasn’t officially announced any plans, the space is starting to be used more for conferences and events.

Are there any other updates?

The whole area of Giza around the pyramids, which includes the GEM, has been in the government’s crosshairs for redevelopment since 2009. The Pyramids of Giza archaeological site has been undergoing big changes as well, including a new visitor centre, and hop-on-hop-off electric buses to shuttle visitors around the site launched in April.

How will the opening affect tourism in Cairo?

Despite the delays, the excitement hasn’t died down. The museum’s opening coincides with the start of peak tourism season in Egypt, when the torrid summer ends and winter ushers in cooler weather. Mosheira said she’s already seen more bookings for 2026 compared with 2025, partially because of the hype around the GEM. This increase is exactly what the Egyptian government is likely hoping for: the country welcomed a record-high 15.7 million tourists in 2024 and is aiming to increase that by at least 30 million by 2028.