The highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, has finally partially opened its doors to visitors. After more than a decade of construction, a series of galleries were inaugurated to the public.
Located near the famous Pyramids of Giza, the museum was originally scheduled to open in 2012, but its inauguration has been repeatedly postponed, mainly due to financial reasons.
The opening of the main galleries is a test phase, following the launch last year of the main hall and the staircase of the pharaonic statues.
“These main galleries cover more than 18,800 square meters divided into 12 rooms dealing with topics related to the society, religion and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, in addition to royalism,” said Al-Tayeb Abbas, assistant to the Minister of Antiquities.
The test, which comes ahead of the upcoming grand opening, will allow the museum to identify potential operational issues, such as overcrowding in some areas.
The museum is expected to display more than 100,000 artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of the young King Tutankhamun, which has not yet been opened to the public.
For now, about 4,000 people a day will be able to visit the open rooms, which are classified by dynasty and historical order.
Eissa Zidan, Director General of Preliminary Restoration and Transfer of Antiquities at the Grand Egyptian Museum, stressed that it houses “distinct and unique things” that cannot be seen anywhere else.
“These include the design of the hanging obelisk, the Grand Staircase, the large exhibitions of a large number of heavy artifacts, the museum of the boats of Cheops and the treasures of the golden pharaoh Tutankhamun,” he said.
The project to build what is considered the largest archaeological museum in the world has already cost more than $1 billion. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the museum’s rooms offer multimedia presentations to bring the lives of the ancient Egyptians to life.
With breathtaking views of the Pyramids of Giza, the museum is expected to attract visitors from around the world.
Costa Rican tourist Jorge Licano was one of the first to visit the new galleries and described his experience as “incredible.”
“There is so much history and things that we are not aware of, especially coming from the other side of the world, and seeing it all here and learning from the locals has been amazing,” he said.
The Grand Egyptian Museum promises a unique immersion into the fascinating history of ancient Egypt, offering visitors an unforgettable and enriching experience.