The New Grand Egyptian Museum
The new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located on the Giza Plateau next to the pyramids, will become one of the world’s largest and most modern museums. It will not only be Egypt’s new crown jewel but also a global landmark. Here are some interesting facts about the museum and its history.
Key Facts and Timeline
- Foundation: The GEM’s ceremonial cornerstone was laid in early 2002. At that time, officials had not yet chosen a design or construction firm.
- Design: In 2003, the Irish architectural firm Heneghan Peng won the main design contract after an international competition. A team of 300 people from 13 companies and six countries contributed to the design phase.
- Cost: The initial project was estimated to cost $500 million. However, due to delays and revisions, the total cost has risen to more than $1 billion.
Construction Phases
The construction of the GEM was divided into three stages:
- Phase I: This phase involved “enabling works.” Workers cleared and secured the site, preparing it for building development.
- Phase II: This phase saw the construction of a fire station, an energy center, and a world-class conservation center, in addition to the main museum structure.
- Phase III: This final phase includes site landscaping, the main museum building’s construction, and land excavation and contouring.
The Collection and Visitor Experience
- The Ramses II Statue: One of the first artifacts moved to the GEM was a 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II. The 83-ton monument previously stood in the middle of a traffic circle in Cairo’s Ramses Square. Workers moved it to the conservation center in 2006 to protect it from pollution. It now rests at the GEM’s main entrance.
- Artifacts: The GEM will house about 100,000 ancient artifacts. This includes 4,549 items from King Tutankhamun’s tomb and the public and private collections of the current Egyptian Museum.
- Visitors: The GEM anticipates about 15,000 visitors per day, which is about three times the number of visitors at the old museum. This will result in over 5 million visits per year.
The old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square is about a 45-minute drive from the pyramids. But since the new GEM will be just 2 km away, visitors will find it much easier to travel between the two sites. This will also help reduce traffic congestion in Cairo and Giza.
