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Discover the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM): The New Crown Jewel of Giza

SUMMARY: Prepare to be amazed at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest and most advanced archaeological museum in the world. Located at the foot of the Giza Pyramids, this state-of-the-art institution will be the new, permanent home for Egypt's greatest treasures. For the first time in history, the entire 5,000-piece golden treasure of King Tutankhamun will be displayed together. From colossal statues to priceless artifacts, the GEM is a must-see, 21st-century wonder.

EFT Team

Published: July 16, 2026

Updated: July 18, 2026

12 min read

Cairo Attractions, Museums, Top Attractions

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), also known as the Giza Museum, is a landmark museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian antiquities, built to ensure these treasures are preserved for future generations. Following partial openings in 2024, the museum officially celebrated its grand opening on November 1, 2025.

It is the largest archaeological museum in the world, capable of hosting 5 million visitors per year, and famously showcases the complete Tutankhamun collection, with many pieces displayed for the first time. The museum’s construction cost totaled $795 million, primarily supported by two loans from the Japanese government totaling $300 million.

Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum Overview

The museum’s stunning design is the result of a massive architectural competition, similar to the one for the Great Library of Alexandria.

The competition began in 2002 and received 1,557 entries from 82 nations, making it the second-largest in history. After narrowing the field to 20 finalists, judges selected Heneghan Peng from Dublin, Ireland, as the winner on June 2, 2003. The firm received $250,000 and the opportunity to see their incredible concept brought to life.

Now, that award-winning vision is a reality, and you can experience it firsthand by booking one of our Egypt tours.

Design of the Grand Egyptian Museum

The museum’s design is a work of symbolic engineering:

Shape & Alignment: It is designed as a chamfered triangle, with its north and south walls aligning perfectly with the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Menkaure.
Plateau Edge: The architecture uses the area’s natural elevation difference to create a new “edge” to the Giza plateau.
Translucent Veil: A veil of translucent stone defines this surface, magically shifting its appearance between day and night.
Position: The museum is located 2 kilometers west of the pyramids at a highway junction, set between the plateau and the Nile River.

Facilities and Restoration Center

The museum is a world-class center for research and education:

Public Features: It includes a children’s museum, a convention facility, a training center, and workshops modeled on Pharaonic sites.
Technology: It uses cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and acts as a global communication hub for other museums.
Restoration Hub: A 32,000-meter restoration center sits 10 meters underground, connected to the museum by a 300-meter tunnel for safe artifact transfer.

Specialized Laboratories

The restoration center contains 19 labs dedicated to conservation:

Object Labs: Separate labs conserve non-organic artifacts (vases, glass, metal), wooden items, and all stone sculptures.
Science Labs: A microbiological lab identifies and removes harmful microorganisms, while a microscope scanning lab analyzes samples.
Mummies Lab: This lab meticulously repairs the mummies of royalty, commoners, and animals like cats and birds.

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Area of the Grand Egyptian Museum

Location and Design

The Grand Egyptian Museum occupies a 50-hectare (120-acre) plot of land about 2 kilometers from the Giza pyramids, forming part of a new master plan for the plateau.

Numerous date palms adorn a wide courtyard in front of the building. A notable translucent wall of pure alabaster forms the building’s front face. The main entrance boasts a large atrium that will display impressive statues.

Facilities and Construction

The Grand Egyptian Museum serves as a cultural complex dedicated to Egyptology. It will feature 24,000 m² of permanent exhibition space—nearly the size of four football fields. The site also includes a children’s museum, a large conference center, educational facilities, and extensive gardens.

Actual construction began on February 2, 2010. Hill International announced that Egypt’s Ministry of Culture had signed a contract with a joint venture of Hill and EHAF Consulting Engineers. This partnership will provide project management services throughout the museum’s design and construction.

The Grand Egyptian Museum’s Development

Project Funding & Construction

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) project began when Egyptian deposed President Hosni Mubarak laid the groundwork on January 5, 2002.

The project’s $1.1 billion cost was funded through several sources:

A $300 million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (secured in 2007).
$147 million from the Egyptian government.
$150 million from donations and international organizations.

On January 11, 2012, a joint venture between Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) and the Belgian BESIX Group won the $810 million contract for the museum’s third construction phase.

Key Milestones & Incidents

Ramesses II Statue: The 3,200-year-old statue of King Ramesses II was moved from Ramses Square to the Giza Plateau on August 25, 2006. It was later relocated to its final position near the museum’s entrance in January 2018.
Tutankhamun’s Chariot: In May 2018, the last of King Tutankhamun’s chariots arrived at the GEM from overseas.
2018 Fire: A fire broke out at the museum’s entrance on April 29, 2018. Firefighters contained the blaze, and no artifacts were destroyed. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

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Grand Egyptian Museum Exhibits

The museum showcases over 100,000 objects. Its main attraction is the first-ever exhibition of King Tutankhamun’s complete 5,000-piece tomb collection. You can also see other massive items, like the colossal statue of Amenhotep III and a four-ton pink granite figure of Horus, alongside artifacts from all over Egypt.

Exploring this world-class collection will be a highlight of your trip to Egypt. Plan your ideal holiday to see the Grand Egyptian Museum and everything else the country has to offer. We recommend booking one of our Egypt tours, which you can easily combine with a Nile river cruise for the ultimate adventure.

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