Egypt Opens World's Largest Civilisation Museum Near Giza Pyramids

Egypt is set to open the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Giza pyramids, billed as the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, after more than two decades of construction and multiple delays. The $1 billion complex spans 470,000 square meters and will house over 50,000 artifacts, including the full collection of King Tutankhamun's treasures, a colossal 83-ton statue of Ramesses II, and a 4,500-year-old boat of Pharaoh Khufu. The museum features 24,000 square meters of permanent exhibition space, a children's museum, educational and conference facilities, a commercial zone, and a large conservation center, with galleries showcasing antiquities from prehistoric times to the Roman era. Advanced technology and multimedia presentations, including mixed-reality shows, are employed to engage younger generations, aligning with the vision of the museum's CEO, Ahmed Ghoneim. The opening, attended by world leaders and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aims to revitalize Egypt's tourism sector, which has faced challenges from political upheaval and the global pandemic, with expectations to draw millions of visitors annually. The museum's striking modern architecture, designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, complements the ancient surroundings, symbolizing a new chapter in Egyptian civilization and its global cultural significance.