Egypt's mega-museum finally opens its doors

The wait is over: After several postponements, the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is now definitely set. The official ceremony with politicians and dignitaries will take place in Giza on November 1, 2025, and three days later – on November 4 – the museum will finally open to the general public.

The full opening was long overdue, especially after the so-called «soft opening» in October 2024. Since then, selected rooms have been gradually made accessible. Now, visitors can experience the full splendor of the new museum: Over 100,000 exhibits document 5,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.

As visitors step into the grand entrance hall, they’re met by a towering 12-metre, 83-ton statue of Ramses II — one of the museum’s most iconic treasures.

Tourism boost hoped for

The Grand Egyptian Museum is considered the world's largest museum dedicated exclusively to a single civilization. Spanning 500,000 square meters, it uses state-of-the-art exhibition concepts, digital reconstructions, and immersive experiences to bring the fascination of ancient Egypt to life.

The opening also comes at an ideal time for tourism: From January to September 2025, Egypt welcomed 15 million international visitors – an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. According to Tourism Minister Sherif Fathi, the museum is expected to provide a further boost. He anticipates that visitor numbers could triple after the opening, from the current figure of around 6,000 to as many as 18,000 per day.

With this new landmark, Egypt is moving closer to its ambitious goal: By 2028, the country aims to welcome 30 million guests annually – and the Grand Egyptian Museum is likely to play a central role in this.