CAIRO, Nov 3 (AGCNewsNet) — Egypt has officially opened the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a monumental cultural project more than two decades in the making, marking a new era for the country’s tourism and heritage sectors.

The opening ceremony on Saturday drew global attention, with dignitaries, prime ministers, and presidents from around the world attending the lavish event in Cairo. The celebration featured a spectacular display of pharaonic imagery, including a drone light show projecting ancient Egyptian gods and pyramids into the night sky, alongside performances from local pop stars.

Located near the iconic Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, the museum is the world’s largest dedicated to a single civilization. It stands as the centrepiece of Egypt’s strategy to revive its tourism sector and bolster an economy challenged by years of instability and global financial pressures.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi described the museum as “a new chapter in the story of this ancient nation’s present and future.”

“This glorious edifice is not only a house for keeping precious relics, but a living testimony to the genius of the Egyptian people,” al-Sisi said. “This is the biggest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization — Egypt’s civilization — whose glamour and grace never fade.”

Construction on the $1 billion project began in 2005 under former President Hosni Mubarak but was repeatedly delayed by political and economic turmoil, including the 2011 Arab Spring uprising.

Since assuming office in 2014, President al-Sisi has championed the museum as part of a broader series of megaprojects aimed at revitalizing Egypt’s infrastructure and cultural landscape.

The Grand Egyptian Museum houses approximately 100,000 artefacts, spanning nearly 7,000 years of Egypt’s history. Among its most celebrated exhibits is the complete collection of treasures from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun — displayed together for the first time since British archaeologist Howard Carter’s discovery in 1922.

The collection includes the boy-king’s iconic golden burial mask, throne, sarcophagus, and thousands of personal artefacts that offer an unprecedented glimpse into ancient Egyptian life and craftsmanship.

Officials expect the museum to attract more than 5 million visitors annually, cementing Egypt’s position as a global cultural destination.

President al-Sisi hailed the project as both a tribute to Egypt’s past and a beacon for its future. “The Grand Egyptian Museum embodies our commitment to preserving history while embracing progress,” he said.

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