Updated October 31, 2025: Egypt’s government will host dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries on Saturday as it holds an official opening ceremony for the Grand Egyptian Museum. It is a $1 billion project decades in the making that was plagued by multiple delays and a ballooning of the budget. The GEM is one of the largest museums in the world, and the largest dedicated to a single civilization: ancient Egypt. Its subject matter spans some 7,000 years from prehistory to the end of the Greek and Roman eras around 400 A.D.
Moreover, the initial cost for the more than 5-million-square-foot, triangular-themed structure about a mile from the iconic pyramids of Giza was estimated at $500 million. Costing over $1 billion, the project was funded through Egyptian resources and international cooperation. In front of the main entrance stands the imposing 53-foot-high Hanging Obelisk, the only such structure in the world. The obelisk itself is about 3,500 years old, but it sits suspended overhead on a modern structure with a glass floor. The museum is one of the biggest museums in Africa as it expects its grand opening.
Egypt has once again postponed the long-anticipated grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, Africa’s largest museum. The main reason noted is because of the escalating military confrontations between Israel and Iran. These remarks were noted by Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday. Madbouly noted that the current regional climate was not amicable for hosting a major international event, attributing to the tensions.
Originally scheduled for July 3, the opening of the museum is expected to be delayed till the fourth quarter of the year. “The regional tensions may persist for weeks,” Madbouly noted. Furthermore, he noted that because of this anticipation, the government found that the appropriate course of action was to postpone. Expected to be a major international event, the opening ceremony will be done during a more conducive atmosphere. He also added that the new date for the opening will be announced based on future regional developments.
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Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)/Giza Museum in Egypt
The Significance of the Grand Egyptian Museum
Located near the iconic pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum is hailed as Africa’s largest museum. Spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the museum hosts a magnitude of ancient Egyptian relics and artefacts. It is also hailed as the world’s largest archeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. The facility will house approximately 57,000 artefacts based on insights from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiques. Moreover, it houses over 100,000 artifacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection. The museum’s collections and location also offers a comprehensive look at Egyptian history across different periods. Valued at an estimated cost of $1 billion, the museum places Egypt on the map in developing its tourism sector. The project has also facilitated implementation of other projects such as the Sphinx International Airport. The aim of this airport is to serve those visiting the pyramids and the museum.
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The 870,000 Square-Meters Grand Egyptian Museum Is Scheduled To Open This Year.
