The GEM: Vision to reality
Nevine El-Aref , Wednesday 29 Oct 2025
The design of the GEM is a bold fusion of modern architecture and ancient landscape, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Giza Plateau.
In the heart of Giza, where the Pyramids rise against the desert sky, a new chapter in Egypt's civilisation is about to unfold. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest archaeological museum in the world, is no longer just a national project; it is a message from Egypt to humanity. It is a symbol of pride, resilience, and Egypt's unwavering commitment to preserving history while embracing the future.
The museum is not simply a building of stone and glass. It is Egypt's gift to the world and a testament to the ancient Egyptian civilisation that has captivated the human imagination for thousands of years. For decades, there have been dreams of creating a museum that would combine dignity, scientific precision, and global accessibility. Today, that dream stands complete overlooking the Giza Plateau at the gateway to one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
The journey to bring this monumental institution to life was not easy. In January 2002, the government launched an international architectural competition to design an institution that would house, preserve, and showcase some of the world's most extraordinary ancient treasures. Just one month later, a ceremonial foundation stone was laid at the chosen site, located a mere 2 km from the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world.
By 2003, the Irish architectural firm Heneghan Peng had won the competition, and their striking contemporary vision was selected to be brought to life as the GEM. Their design proposed a bold fusion of modern architecture and ancient landscape, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Giza Plateau.
The building follows a chamfered triangular plan that aligns precisely with the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The philosophy of the design is to connect the axes of the building with the axes of the neighbouring Pyramids. Thus, the contemporary design of the museum is intended to show ancient and modern Egypt at one.
Its marble-clad façade, adorned with repeated geometric motifs, emits a soft glow at dusk and includes seven pyramids, a number that has held significant meaning throughout Egyptian history. The eastern façade of GEM is 46 metres high and more than 800 metres long and is divided into three parts, two of which contains three pyramids.
The use of illumination to link the earth to the sky through light represents the fourth dimension. A seventh transparent pyramid is located on the façade facing north towards the Giza Plateau. This pyramid represents the continuity of Egypt's pioneering influence from antiquity to the modern day. The main entrance façade presents a series of cartouches containing the names of the ancient kings of Egypt to welcome all visitors.
Construction officially began in 2005. However, the project faced a series of challenges, environmental constraints, budget pressures, and political turmoil, which delayed progress. The situation worsened in 2011 with the 25 January Revolution. Work on the museum came to a standstill amid political instability, while tourism, one of the nation's primary sources of funding, plummeted.
In 2014, when political stability began to return with renewed government support and international financial backing, construction resumed in earnest. Despite previous setbacks, the vision of creating one of the world's largest and most important archaeological museums was revived.
A major turning point came in 2016, when progress on the GEM stood at just 17 per cent. From that moment, construction gained momentum and continued at full pace. Today, the museum is fully completed and will officially open on 1 November.
INSIDE THE GEM: Upon entering the GEM's main external gate visitors are greeted by the San Al-Hagar Obelisk, the first in the world to be placed in a special display, offering visitors the opportunity to walk beneath it and see the cartouche of King Ramses II engraved on it.
Ancient Egyptian royal figures used to engrave their cartouches on the bottoms of obelisks as a mark of ownership. Within the building itself the statue of Ramses II proudly greets visitors.
The 83-ton colossal statue of Ramses II is the first of the museum's 57,000 artefacts to have taken its place at the GEM. It was transported from Downtown Cairo to the GEM site even before the construction of the building began, symbolically marking the museum's future home and serving as its earliest guardian.
In addition to the towering statue of Ramses II, visitors entering the museum's grand atrium are greeted by an impressive ensemble of monumental artefacts. Among them stands the Victory Column of King Meneptah, a powerful symbol of Egypt's military triumphs.
Lining the space are ten seated statues of King Senusret, each carved with regal precision, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the Middle Kingdom. Also on display are two colossal statues of a Ptolemaic king and queen that were recovered from the Mediterranean Sea off Alexandria, where they had lain submerged for centuries.
Together, these masterpieces form a dramatic introduction to the GEM's vast collection, setting the tone for the journey through thousands of years of ancient Egyptian civilisation.
From the atrium, visitors are drawn towards one of the museum's most breathtaking architectural features — the Grand Staircase. Spanning more than 6,000 square metres, this functions not only as a pathway upwards but also as a "vertical museum" displaying some of the most imposing relics of Ancient Egyptian kingship and belief.
Rising through six levels, the staircase serves as a central artery of the museum, connecting the entrance with the exhibition halls above. Visitors can ascend via steps, travellators, or elevators for the disabled, all leading to a panoramic view of the Great Pyramids of Giza framed like a living monument at the end of the ascent.
"The staircase houses 87 colossal artefacts, many of which have never been exhibited before on such a scale," said Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the GEM. These are presented under thematic narratives such as "Royal Image", "Kings and Gods", "Divine Houses", and "Journey to Eternity". Their presence turns the staircase into a ceremonial passage through Egypt's dynastic history.
Among the remarkable pieces displayed are a red granite colossus of King Seti I, an imposing statue of Queen Hatshepsut, a powerful depiction of the Roman Emperor Caracalla, and an array of architectural elements including columns, obelisk fragments, naoi (stone shrines), niches, and temple reliefs. Each piece reinforces the grandeur of Egyptian civilisation and the divine authority of its rulers.
Standing at the intersection of architecture, history, and ritual symbolism, the Grand Staircase acts as the museum's ceremonial spine and represents a journey upwards through stone, light, and time.
The museum's main galleries offer visitors an unprecedented journey through the ancient Egyptian civilisation spanning from around 7000 BCE to 394 CE. Ghoneim explains that the galleries present this civilisation's history through a rich tapestry of ancient treasures and archaeological collections meticulously designed to tell the long story of ancient Egypt.
With 12 galleries organised into four broad time periods and three thematic pillars of Society, Kingship, and Beliefs, visitors are invited to explore Egyptian history in multiple ways. Whether choosing to move chronologically or thematically, or combining both, each visitor can create a unique and personalised journey through Egypt's past.
"The galleries offer an immersive experience into the lives of Egyptian people, kings, queens, and commoners alike," Eltayeb Abbas, CEO of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Cairo and a former assistant to the minister of antiquities for GEM affairs, told Al-Ahram Weekly.
He said that from the daily routines of prehistoric hunter-gatherers to the burial preparations of great warrior kings, the exhibits reveal how the Ancient Egyptians lived, worshipped, and prepared for the journey into the afterlife. Magnificent objects, such as royal jewellery, ceremonial items, and everyday tools provide a glimpse into their beliefs, hopes, and fears, as well as the complex social structures that defined their society.
THEMES: The Society theme highlights the daily lives of various groups in ancient Egypt, from hunter-gatherers and farmers to scribes, priests, and government officials.
Through carefully curated artefacts such as furniture, tools, and personal items, the exhibition brings to life the contrast between the lifestyles of the rich and those of the poor. It also focuses on the innovations that shaped ancient Egyptian society, offering insights into the agricultural and cultural advances that transformed the country over thousands of years.
The Kingship theme traces the evolving role of Egypt's kings and queens over more than 3,000 years of the dynastic periods. Beginning with the Early Dynastic Period, the section illustrates how royal power and influence grew, culminating in Egypt's establishment as one of the world's largest empires. Visitors can explore the rise and fall of the royal dynasties, from the establishment of centralised authority to the eventual decline of Egypt as it became a province under the Roman Empire.
In the Beliefs section, Abbas said, the galleries delve into the spiritual and religious world of ancient Egypt. This section explores the pantheon of Egypt's gods and goddesses, their temples, and the divine cults that shaped Egyptian religion. Visitors can also learn about complex funerary rituals, including the construction of tombs and burial complexes, as well as about the various objects and equipment such as canopic jars and shabti figures that accompanied the dead into the afterlife.
Through these exhibits, the profound connection between religion and governance in ancient Egypt becomes evident.
"The main galleries at the GEM offer an extraordinary journey through Egypt's rich history, providing visitors with an in-depth understanding of how one of the world's greatest civilisations lived, ruled, and believed. Whether focused on Society, Kingship, or Beliefs, each gallery invites visitors to step into the daily lives, monumental reigns, and spiritual realms of the ancient Egyptians," Abbas said.
Each gallery highlights key artefacts and treasures from different periods of Egypt's history. Abbas said that the first three galleries cover the earliest periods of Egyptian history from the Prehistoric Period to the end of the First Intermediate Period. The fourth, fifth, and sixth galleries of the GEM explore Egypt's Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period.
The seventh, eighth, and ninth galleries are dedicated to the New Kingdom, showcasing the glory of Egypt's expanding empire. On display are statues, documents, and personal items belonging to viziers, soldiers, and priests who played key roles in managing Egypt's dominion. The final three galleries span from the Third Intermediate Period through the Graeco-Roman era.
The main galleries also take visitors on an immersive journey through Egypt's rich history that is enhanced by state-of-the-art digital displays and interactive installations.
At the pinnacle of the visitor journey lies one of the most anticipated elements of the GEM — the Tutankhamun Galleries. For the first time since Howard Carter discovered the boy-king's tomb in 1922, the entire collection of over 5,400 artefacts is displayed together in one place, just as they were found in the Valley of the Kings.
Occupying more than 7,000 square metres, the galleries are designed as an immersive narrative that follows Tutankhamun's life, death, and afterlife. Rather than presenting the artefacts simply as treasures, the museum curates them as part of a story, divided into themes of Identity, Lifestyle, Funeral, Rebirth, and Discovery and culminating in the grandeur of his burial and the journey to eternity.
Among the highlights are the iconic golden funerary mask, the three nested coffins, the gilded shrines, ceremonial chariots, jewellery, weapons, and the remarkable textiles and garments that survived more than 3,000 years. Many of these objects, particularly delicate items such as linen, food offerings, and personal belongings, have never been exhibited before due to conservation challenges.
The galleries are designed to resemble a conceptual reconstruction of his tomb's chambers, including the Antechamber, Annex, Burial Chamber, and Treasury, allowing visitors to experience the discovery as Carter saw it a century ago. Advanced display technology, controlled lighting, and climate systems ensure that the artefacts are preserved while being shown in unprecedented clarity.
More than just a royal exhibit, the Tutankhamun collections reflect the artistry, beliefs, and daily life of ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty. For many, this will be the museum's emotional core: a golden world frozen in time and now brought back to life on the edge of the desert overlooking the Pyramids.
Beyond its galleries and archaeological wonders, Ghoneim pointed out, the GEM is also designed as a vibrant cultural and commercial destination. It features an expansive commercial area that includes shops, bookshops, artisanal craft stores, cafés, and restaurants. Visitors will be able to purchase high-quality replicas, jewellery inspired by ancient designs, contemporary Egyptian fashion, traditional crafts, and curated branded souvenirs.
The GEM includes a dedicated Children's Museum, designed to introduce young visitors to ancient Egypt in an interactive, engaging, and educational way. Far from being a traditional gallery, this space uses state-of-the-art technology, augmented reality, and hands-on displays to help children explore how the ancient Egyptians lived, built their monuments, worshipped their gods, and prepared for the afterlife.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 30 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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