The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will be inaugurated by the end of this year, the head of the Egyptian Tourist Guide Syndicate, Basim Halaqa, said, with a caveat that the decision lies with the political leadership based on what it feels is the appropriate date for the celebration.
During an interview with the privately-owned TeN satellite channel on Sunday, he explained that the preparations for the GEM are 100 percent finished, and the current process of transferring artifacts is being done with the utmost care.
Halaqa said that heads of states from around the world are expected to visit the GEM’s opening ceremony of GEM, in addition to the many festivals held after to promote the opening.
A plan is in place to establish a three-star hotel near the GEM to receive as many tourists as possible in the Giza area, encouraging them to stay as long as they can and enjoy their time in Egypt, Halaqa added.
Egypt has put into place a plan to beautify the roads leading to the GEM, which includes the creation of a new tourist walkway to the Giza Pyramids.
Development in the area continues and extends from the Shooting Club area, passing through the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road to Sphinx Airport as well as the Fayoum Road.
Egypt’s grandest museum
The Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Eissa, announced that he anticipates the opening of the GEM to be between October and February.
Eissa said, in press statements, that work is underway to finish the GEM, as well as the area surrounding the museum.
He added that once work is completed, the project will be presented to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to set the date for the official opening.
Constructed on approximately 500,000 square meters, the new GEM is located nearby the Giza Pyramids and will house the world’s largest antiquities collection belonging to a single culture’s heritage.
The GEM is set to showcase 5,000 relics from Tutankhamun’s collection as well — including 2,000 artifacts displayed for the first time.
The museum includes huge exhibition halls, and is distinguished by its proximity to the Giza pyramids area and the New Administrative Capital, which makes it a gateway to Egypt’s past, present and future.
It is expected to attract about five million tourists.
