Egyptians to Enjoy Free Entry to Some Archaeological Museums on Int'l Museum Day

Egyptians will be granted free access to archaeological museums across the country on May 18 in celebration of International Museum Day — with the exception of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The decision was announced during a meeting of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, chaired by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy at the ministry’s headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

The council also reviewed its financial performance from July 2024 to March 2025, highlighting a 19% year-on-year increase in visits to museums and archaeological sites. Officials attributed the growth to ongoing efforts to improve visitor experiences and site management.

During the session, the board approved plans to upgrade services at 15 archaeological sites nationwide. The initiative aims to enhance tourism infrastructure by adding multilingual signage, visitor maps, shaded rest areas, recycling bins, and improved restroom facilities. Visitor centers will also be revamped, and accessibility features will be introduced for people with disabilities.

Minister Fathy emphasized the importance of tailoring improvements to each site’s unique characteristics, ensuring any enhancements respect the historical integrity of the locations. “Investing in visitor experience is not a luxury — it’s a strategic priority,” he said. “Creating accessible, enjoyable tourism experiences will drive more visitors to Egypt.”

The council also approved a number of administrative decisions, including preliminary approval to increase the retirement bonus for employees of the Supreme Council of Antiquities starting next fiscal year. Final terms will be determined in the next board meeting.

Moreover, the council ratified decisions to register three marble plaques from the Mustafa Sarmad El-Bey Mosque in Sharqia Governorate as officially recognized antiquities. It also approved new archaeological missions and the registration of newly discovered artifacts.