Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany held an opening ceremony at the Islamic Art Museum on Saturday, to mark new opening hours for visitors from 5-9 pm on Saturdays.
Also in attendance were Culture Minister Helmy al-Namnam, Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali, Religious Endowments Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, actress Layla Elwy, several MPs, foreign ambassadors and heads of foreign institutes in Egypt.
“The Islamic Art Museum, which has been restored after a terrorist attack, will receive visitors tonight, allowing students and employees entrance. Most importantly, opening the museum in downtown Cairo to visitors is considered victory against terrorism,” Anany said, indicating downtown Cairo as a safe place for tourists.
He added that Minister Gomaa oversaw the measures taken ahead of this step that will be applied to protect archaeologically-significant mosques.
Meanwhile, Elham Salah, head of the museums sector, said the decision to open the museum in the evening came after the great success achieved when the Egyptian Museum was opened for two evenings a week several months ago.
The ministry will allow evening entrance to several archaeological sites and museums soon in order to promote incoming tourists as well as to allow employees and students to visit in the evening.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
