Egypt will open the long-delayed $1 billion (about £820 million) Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, unveiling the world’s largest archaeological complex dedicated to a single civilisation after more than 20 years of planning and construction.
Located just a mile from the pyramids of Giza, the 470,000-square-metre facility will display more than 50,000 artefacts spanning prehistoric times to the Roman era.
Among them are an 83-tonne, 3,200-year-old statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II and a 4,500-year-old wooden boat belonging to Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid.
Construction of the vast complex began in 2005, though the project was first announced in 1992. Some exhibition halls opened during a soft launch in 2024.
The main opening, repeatedly delayed, most recently in July amid regional tensions over the Gaza conflict is expected to draw world leaders, including the country's President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Museum chief executive Ahmed Ghoneim said the museum uses advanced technology and mixed-reality displays to engage younger audiences. “We’re using the language that Gen Z uses,” he told reporters.
The museum’s 24,000 sq metres of permanent exhibition space include 12 main galleries, a children’s museum, a conservation centre and conference facilities.
Many antiquities have been transferred from Cairo’s century-old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, while others come from recent excavations at the Saqqara necropolis, about 14 miles (22 km) to the south.
Officials say the new attraction forms part of a broader infrastructure drive that includes a metro system and a new airport for the Giza area.
The project aims to revitalise Egypt’s tourism sector, which drew a record 15.7 million visitors in 2024. The government hopes to double that figure by 2032, with the museum expected to receive 15,000–20,000 visitors a day.
“It is a gift from Egypt to the world and we are proud to finally share it,” said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy.
The launch comes amid renewed concerns over artefact security after the theft of two pieces, including a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet, from a Cairo conservation lab.
Looting during the 2011 Arab Spring also led to the loss of several antiquities.
Hassan Allam, head of the firm managing the museum, said anticipation was global: “The world has been waiting … everyone’s excited.”
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critica...
Washington’s seizure of a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil shows a shift from financial sanctions to direct maritime action, further straining relatio...
Anewz brings you the best videos of the day from around the world covering everything from uplifting events to updates in conflict zones....
At least 37 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, Moroccan authorities ...
The European Union’s interest in investing in regional connectivity projects in the South Caucasus, such as the Trump Route for International Peace ...
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critical damage.
Anewz brings you the best videos of the day from around the world covering everything from uplifting events to updates in conflict zones.
The European Union’s interest in investing in regional connectivity projects in the South Caucasus, such as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is driven by a need for strategic credibility and a tangible foreign policy success, according to a regional expert.
French senators on Monday approved a revised 2026 budget bill that the government warned could worsen the country’s fiscal deficit, setting the stage for tense negotiations between parliament’s two chambers later this week.
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said that Ukraine has not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of children it alleges were taken illegally to Russia, despite the issue being discussed during talks in Istanbul.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
An explosive device found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers in Bondi shooting has been secured and removed according to Police. The incident left 12 people dead.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has offered condolences to President Donald Trump following an ISIS attack near the ancient city of Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, Syrian and U.S. officials said Sunday.
Iceland is has become the fifth country to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
UNESCO has unveiled the latest additions to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, celebrating a rich array of global traditions that reflect the importance of cuisine, festivals, and local customs.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, for her tireless efforts in advocating for democracy and a peaceful transition in Venezuela.
Italy is awaiting a ruling from UNESCO that could officially place its cuisine on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, a recognition that would highlight the nation’s centuries-old culinary traditions. A final decision is expected on Wednesday (10 December).
Netflix’s plan to buy Warner Bros marks a rare moment in Hollywood where scale, risk and ambition collide. The agreement, announced on 5 December, puts a price of roughly 82.7 billion dollars on one of the film industry's most influential studios.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment