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Grand Egyptian Museum Opening Ceremony Highlights


Sun 02 Nov 2025 | 11:19 AM
Rana Atef

Under the shadow of the Giza Pyramids, a new wonder has emerged, a vast, light-filled monument that bridges five millennia of history with the ambitions of a modern nation.

On Saturday, Egypt unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in a dazzling ceremony attended by world leaders, artists, and dignitaries from every continent.

Two decades in the making, the billion-dollar complex is now the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, a cultural beacon designed not just to preserve Egypt’s past but to project its future.

As the November sun dipped behind the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the museum’s golden limestone façade glowed in the twilight. 

Inside the sweeping forecourt, orchestral music and theatrical lighting bathed the site in a sense of timeless grandeur.

Among the guests were President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, First Lady Entissar el-Sisi, and an array of monarchs, presidents, and cultural figures, representing seventy-nine international delegations. 

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities described the event as “a message of civilization and peace from Egypt to the world.”

The evening’s program merged high culture with national pride, combining ancient heritage, classical performance, and contemporary artistry in a spectacle that was at once archaeological and emotional.

One of the night’s most moving moments came when Egyptian soprano Fatma Said, whose luminous voice has graced opera houses from Vienna to Berlin, stepped onto the stage of the GEM. 

With her mesmerizing operatic tone, she delivered an ethereal performance that silenced the vast audience, just weeks after giving birth to twins.

In interviews following the event, Said revealed that performing so soon after becoming a mother had been both “a personal and professional challenge.”

“This was my first concert as a mother,” she said. 

“I gave birth only a few weeks ago and wasn’t sure I could perform. I was anxious, but my children gave me the strength and energy to take part in such an important moment for Egypt.”

Her appearance became a symbol of resilience, an artist’s dedication to her craft and her country. 

“My family’s support and the honor of representing Egypt on such a global stage made it all worthwhile,” she added.

Among the museum’s many marvels, none drew more awe than the Hanging Obelisk, suspended in mid-air at the museum’s entrance plaza. 

It is the first obelisk in the world to be displayed in this way, mounted on elevated granite supports so visitors can walk beneath it and gaze up at its ancient base.

The obelisk dates to the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II and was unearthed in Tanis by British archaeologist Flinders Petrie in 1884. 

Archaeologist Dr. Hussein Abdel-Basir noted that Ramses’ name is carved unusually at the bottom of the monument, a decision meant to protect it from erosion and “a deliberate act of symbolic immortality.”

The installation’s visionary design was conceived by Major General Atef Moftah, the museum’s general coordinator, who saw in it a chance to unite “the genius of the ancients with the daring of contemporary architecture.”

The result is a breathtaking gateway that greets visitors with a dialogue between eternity and innovation.

The Grand Egyptian Museum spans 470,000 square meters, a monumental complex overlooking the Giza Plateau. It houses more than 50,000 artifacts on display, with over 100,000 pieces in total, offering visitors a journey through the entire span of Egypt’s ancient civilization.

For the first time in history, the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun are displayed together in one place. State-of-the-art lighting and climate systems protect each artifact, while digital technology guides visitors through immersive storytelling.

The museum’s architecture itself is symbolic: triangular lines echo the geometry of the pyramids, while vast glass panels frame panoramic views of Giza’s ancient skyline.

“The Grand Egyptian Museum embodies the journey of a great people who have contributed to human civilization through the ages,” President el-Sisi said in his address. “It is a declaration of Egypt’s faith in knowledge, peace, and progress.”

The inauguration extended over two full days of events. On Sunday, November 2, official delegations and foreign missions toured the exhibition halls, guided by Egypt’s top archaeologists. 

On Monday, November 3, journalists from around the world were invited for an exclusive preview and press conference.

The museum officially opens its doors to the public on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with ticketing available online to manage crowd flow.

The evening also showcased Egypt’s next generation of artists. Rising actress Yasmina El-Abd took the stage to deliver a poignant speech on Egypt’s legacy of intellect and peace:

“I learned from my ancestors that strength lies in ideas, that peace builds civilizations, and that wars steal lifetimes.”

Later, Nubian musician Ahmed Ismail brought the spirit of southern Egypt to the celebration. His performance—blending the resonant tones of the oud with rhythmic Nubian beats—was greeted with thunderous applause. “It was a performance that felt like the heartbeat of the Nile,” one foreign journalist remarked.

Beyond its architectural and artistic splendor, the Grand Egyptian Museum sends a clear message: Egypt is reclaiming its place as a global center of culture and civilization.

International media have hailed it as “a new wonder of the world.” 

Le Monde predicted it could help Egypt reach 30 million tourists annually by 2030, while UNESCO called it “a masterpiece of cultural diplomacy.”

The GEM has also been recognized as Africa and the Middle East’s first EDGE-Advanced green museum, underscoring Egypt’s commitment to sustainable development in culture and tourism.

Standing at the foot of the museum, with the pyramids gleaming under the night sky, one feels the seamless continuity between past and present. 

The Grand Egyptian Museum is not just a repository of artifacts—it is a testament to a living civilization, a space where memory, art, and modernity converge.

As soprano Fatma Said’s final notes lingered in the air, echoing through the marble halls, they seemed to carry a message from Egypt to the world: the story of the Pharaohs continues—reborn, resonant, and eternal.

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