The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo is a monumental institution that is set to officially open on November 1 of this year. RFI journalists were able to see this grandiose structure, which is striking in its scale.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, has been in the works for more than two decades. It was originally planned to open in 2013.
After countless delays, from the Covid-19 pandemic to regional instability, the museum is now set to open on November 1, 2025. However, several galleries are already open to visitors.
Located just a stone’s throw from the Giza Pyramids, the museum will be the world’s largest archaeological and antiquities museum dedicated entirely to ancient Egypt.
The building’s long, striking façade, with translucent alabaster walls, is reminiscent of the Pyramids of Giza. Its north and south walls are aligned with two of them, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The design was by Irish architect Roisin Heneghan, co-founder of Heneghan Peng Architects.
At the entrance to the museum, visitors are greeted by a majestic 11-meter statue of Ramses II. It was carved more than 3,000 years ago, during the New Kingdom of Egypt. The statue stood in front of Cairo’s railway station for many years.
Ahmed Ghonaim, director of the Grand Egyptian Museum, explains its uniqueness:
This institution is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. In this case, Ancient Egypt (...). It is a museum that combines the latest scientific achievements with advanced restoration technologies. And the way the works are presented in this museum meets the latest requirements of museography. We are very happy that Egypt can offer it to the world.
Музей, горішня частина якого має форму витягнутого багатокутника, задуманий як подорож цією стародавньою цивілізацією. Так, Великі сходи — це дуже широкі сходи, обабіч яких стоять статуї, саркофаги та іншими артефакти, точніше, 59 великі експонати. Сходи нагадують подорож крізь 7000 років історії.
Вони мають шість рівнів і ведуть відвідувачів через різні династії єгипетських царів. На найвищому через вікно відкривається краєвид на піраміди Гізи, Хеопса, Хефрена та Менкаура.
Galleries, Labs, and Gardens
A tour of 12 galleries is organized chronologically and focuses on three themes: society, royalty, and belief.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is spread over nearly 120 acres of land, half of which is gardens and open spaces. It cost over $1 billion to build and is designed to house over 100,000 exhibits.
It also houses specialized conservation and restoration labs. Among the objects being restored is the famous Sun Boat of Khufu.
What else can you see at the museum?
In addition to 19 on-site conservation laboratories, the Grand Egyptian Museum has a conference center, a children's museum, shops, and restaurants. The facility uses new technology to help us imagine what ancient Egypt was like.
For example, one room recreates the burial chamber of high-ranking official Khnumhotep II, with scenes depicting the environment, from farming in the Nile Valley to fishing in flooded areas and hunting. Thanks to the technological device, the tomb's wall paintings come to life.
In another room we find a statue of a pharaoh, although actually a woman, Hatshepsut.
Of all the rooms, the most striking is undoubtedly the one dedicated to the treasures of Tutankhamun. It brings together some 5,000 exhibits and will be available for the official opening on November 1, 2025.
For Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter, a French art critic and historian visiting the museum for the first time, the grandeur does not overshadow the personal aspect:
“I am particularly fascinated by this museum because, admittedly, it has an overwhelming, colossal side... But there are also more intimate moments, such as the room dedicated to mummies. Here we can wander past people who have been embalmed forever... And, in this way, we come face to face with these people, with their beliefs, with their relationship with death”.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, a showcase of ancient civilization, will be able to welcome five million visitors each year.