The "Fourth Pyramid" waits: Grand Egyptian Museum postpones inauguration due to regional tensions
Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouly announced new opening date to be determined after coordination with concerned parties.
Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), hailed as the "fourth pyramid" due to its grand design and proximity to the Giza pyramids, has postponed its official opening to the last quarter of 2025. The decision comes amid escalating regional tensions, specifically the conflict between Iran and Israel, according to Al Arabiya.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that the inauguration ceremony, originally scheduled for July 3rd, will be delayed to ensure an event that befits Egypt's cultural and tourism standing on the international stage. The new date will be determined and announced after coordination with all concerned parties, as reported by Daily News Egypt.
"The goal of the postponement is to create an appropriate environment for the opening ceremony," Madbouly said during a press conference, according to Daily News Egypt. "As a state, in light of this conflict, we consider it appropriate to postpone the inauguration of the museum."
The decision is driven by Egypt's national responsibility to organize an exceptional international event that reflects the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization and its unique heritage.
Invitations for the planned grand ceremony on July 3rd had already been sent to heads of state and monarchs from around the world, including US President Donald Trump and King Felipe VI of Spain, reported Al Arabiya. However, the escalating tensions in the region and the uncertain security situation have necessitated the postponement.
Despite the delays, large parts of the Grand Egyptian Museum have been accessible to the public since last year. Following a partial opening in February 2023, tourists have been able to access the atrium housing the colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II and the Grand Staircase offering a view of the pyramids, as reported by Die Zeit. Visitors can see massive statues of the pharaohs and items used daily in ancient Egypt, experiencing artifacts that showcase different stages of the Pharaonic civilization. The museum is prepared to receive up to 15,000 people daily.
Covering an area of 500,000 square meters, the GEM is the largest museum in the world specialized in Egyptian civilization. It boasts a collection of over 100,000 artifacts, with more than 57,000 objects from the Pharaonic civilization expected to be on display. The museum's area is twice that of the Louvre Museum in Paris and two and a half times that of the British Museum, according to Stern.
Among the prominent features of the museum are the treasures of King Tutankhamun, including his famous golden mask, which will occupy a prestigious place in a dedicated exhibition hall. The museum also includes the intricately carved chair of Queen Hetepheres, the mother of Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid, previously preserved inside a dimly lit hall in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The Grand Egyptian Museum has faced multiple delays since its groundbreaking ceremony in 2002, with the actual start of construction work celebrated in 2012. The project was further interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and regional revolutions. The Egyptian government intends to inaugurate the GEM in a grand manner, reflecting its status as the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization.
Madbouly emphasized the importance of creating an appropriate environment for the opening ceremony and called on the public to conserve power amidst the current challenges. "We call on citizens to rationalise their use of electricity," he said, according to Daily News Egypt. He noted that the government is working to improve the efficiency of power stations and that reserves of mazut, a heavy fuel oil, were double the levels of last year.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities assured that the GEM will continue to receive visitors during its soft-opening phase until the new official inauguration date approaches.
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