Egypt sets official opening date for Grand Egyptian Museum, a billion-dollar landmark

Culture vultures with an interest in Ancient Egypt have much to rejoice. Egypt officially announced the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on July 3, following years of delays. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly confirmed the date this week.

Situated near the iconic Giza pyramids, the state-of-the-art museum has been two decades in the making, with a price tag of approximately $1 billion. Designed to complement the historic Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which has been in operation since 1892, the new facility boasts cutting-edge technology and immersive exhibits. It will showcase around 100,000 artifacts, including treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb, Bloomberg reports.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to provide a major boost to Egypt’s tourism industry, a critical sector for the country’s economy. Officials anticipate that the museum alone will draw around 5 million visitors annually.

Despite regional challenges, Egypt recorded a historic 15.78 million tourists in 2024. The recent 40% devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the U.S. dollar has also made the country a more attractive destination for international travelers.