Egypt Appoints New Leaders for Major Museums

In a move aimed at advancing Egypt’s museum sector, the Prime Minister has issued two key appointments within the country’s most prestigious cultural institutions.

Ahmed Ghoneim, the former Executive Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) for a one-year term.

Meanwhile, Tayeb Abbas, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Archaeological Affairs at GEM, has been named Executive Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, also for a year.

These appointments reflect the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' strategy to leverage highly qualified leadership to drive progress in its operations.

Since taking office, Minister Sherif Fathy has emphasized a structured approach to utilizing skilled professionals to enhance the efficiency of Egypt's cultural institutions.

Ghoneim, who is now the Executive Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum, has been instrumental in shaping Egypt’s museum landscape.

He was the first Executive Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, appointed in 2020.

Ghoneim holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, and a Master's degree in Development Economics from the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands. His expertise spans both academia and public administration.

Before his involvement in the museum sector, Ghoneim served as an advisor to the Ministers of Trade and Industry on foreign trade and international agreements.

Additionally, he held the position of Egypt's Cultural Attaché and Head of the Educational Mission in Germany and Austria, overseeing 10 other countries from 2014 to 2018. His appointment to the Grand Egyptian Museum signals a new chapter in the institution’s growth as it prepares to open to the public.

Abbas, now taking over as the Executive Director of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, has been a key figure in overseeing archaeological affairs at the Grand Egyptian Museum since 2020.

Under his supervision, the museum recently completed the setup of its main exhibition halls, which began trial operations last week. His leadership has been pivotal in organizing the display of Egypt's ancient treasures in one of the world’s most significant museums.

Abbas received his PhD in Ancient Egyptian Religious Literature from the University of Liverpool in 2009 and holds a Master’s degree in Tourism Guidance from Minya University.

His career includes various academic roles, including teaching the ancient Egyptian language at Minya University’s Faculty of Tourism and Hotels.

In 2012, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship at Brown University in the United States, and upon his return, he led the university’s electronic services unit.

Abbas has also made significant contributions to Egyptology, serving as a researcher at the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo and working as a scientific correspondent for the institute in Egyptian universities.

He played a critical role in the 2019 discovery of the Mummy Cache at Tuna el-Gebel, leading a joint excavation mission between Minya University and the Ministry of Antiquities.