After years of anticipation, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located beside the Pyramids of Giza, has partially opened to the public ahead of its full launch on July 3, 2025. This soft opening gives visitors early access to select galleries and public areas, offering a preview of what will become the world’s largest museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian civilization.
This trial phase includes 12 exhibition halls, the Grand Hall, the Grand Staircase, and the commercial area. The galleries feature artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Roman era, organized thematically around society, kingship, and beliefs. These galleries showcase artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Roman era, organized thematically around society, kingship, and beliefs. Highlights include statues of royal family members and high-ranking officials, as well as artifacts from various dynasties.
The museum, covering approximately 490,000 square meters, is set to house over 100,000 artifacts, many of which have never been publicly displayed. The full opening will unveil the complete Tutankhamun collection, comprising over 5,000 artifacts, and the Khufu solar boat, carefully relocated and preserved.
With an estimated cost exceeding $1 billion and covering nearly 500,000 square meters, the Grand Egyptian Museum is set to become the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has emphasized that the opening should reflect Egypt’s cultural significance without imposing financial burdens on the state. Until then, the partial opening provides a compelling glimpse into what promises to be one of the most important museum projects of the 21st century.
Whether you’re planning a trip soon or just geeking out from afar, this preview period is a rare chance to witness history in the making.
