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Culture & History

Egypt Inaugurates Grand Egyptian Museum Near Pyramids After 20-Year Wait

A Modern Showcase for Ancient Treasures Opens Amid Global Fanfare

Naffah

Egypt inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday in a lavish ceremony near the Giza Pyramids.

The event drew presidents, prime ministers, and royalty from around the world.

Construction of the $1 billion complex, funded largely by Japanese loans, began two decades ago but faced delays from political upheaval, a pandemic, and regional conflicts.

The museum aims to house one of the world's richest antiquities collections in a contemporary setting.

The opening featured dancers in pharaonic attire, pop stars, an international orchestra, lasers, fireworks, and a drone light show forming hieroglyphics and ancient gods.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described it as writing a new chapter for the nation.

Attendees included German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and crown princes from Oman and Bahrain.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called the museum a gift to the world from a civilization over 7,000 years old.

Highlights and Ambitions for Tourism Revival

The museum displays the full Tutankhamun collection for the first time since 1922, including the golden mask, throne, and sarcophagus.

A colossal Ramses II statue now greets visitors in the entry hall.

Spanning 120 acres with sleek pyramid-evoking design, it contrasts the outdated downtown Egyptian Museum, which suffered looting in 2011 and damage to artifacts.

Officials expect 5 million annual visitors to boost tourism, vital for Egypt's economy, targeting 30 million by 2032.

The project joins other mega-initiatives to revive foreign currency inflows amid past instability.

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