At a Glance
- Egypt opens $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum to boost tourism and foreign currency earnings.
- New Giza landmark aims to attract seven million more visitors annually by 2030.
- Museum showcases Tutankhamun treasures in world-class galleries near the Pyramids of Giza.
Egypt is opening the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, a project that officials hope will breathe new life into a tourism industry battered for more than a decade by political unrest, a pandemic, and regional wars.
Authorities say the new complex, known as GEM, could attract as many as seven million additional visitors a year, lifting total arrivals to about 30 million by 2030.
Rising from the desert near the Giza Pyramids, the 500,000-square-meter museum will showcase tens of thousands of ancient artifacts, including the full collection of treasures from the boy-king Tutankhamun — many being displayed for the first time.
Unlike the older Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo, known for its crowded display cases, the new site features spacious galleries, immersive exhibits, and virtual-reality experiences designed to appeal to a global audience.
Tourism is one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign currency, vital for paying for imports such as wheat and fuel.
Cultural tourism push
Egypt welcomed 15.7 million visitors last year, who spent a record $15 billion, according to official data. That marks a major rebound from 2015–2016, when earnings slumped to $3.8 billion amid post-uprising turmoil.
Still, the country lags behind Turkey, which drew more than 50 million visitors last year and earned about $60 billion.
Analysts say Egypt’s tourism potential has been constrained by aging infrastructure and inconsistent planning.
“The museum accommodates a huge collection that was previously kept in storage due to lack of display space,” said Ghada Abdelmoaty, an associate professor at the Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels in Alexandria.
Popular for its Red Sea resorts, Egypt now wants to attract more cultural tourists, who tend to spend more and stay longer. Abdelmoaty estimates that cultural visitors currently make up only 10 percent to 15 percent of all foreign travelers.
Remon Naguib, chief commercial officer at Orient Hospitality Group, said his company is offering combined travel packages.
“Visitors can tour the museum, then spend a few days at the Red Sea — Ain Sukhna is just an hour from Cairo,” he said.
Upgrades around Giza
To prepare for the opening, the government has improved access roads and relocated the entrance to the Giza Pyramids to reduce congestion and deter aggressive street vendors.
A new airport, about 15 miles from the museum, is set to handle international visitors.
Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said Egypt has added 5,000 hotel rooms to its 235,000-room inventory and plans to add 9,000 more by year-end.
The sector’s recovery remains crucial. With disruptions in the Suez Canal and ongoing conflict in Gaza, Egypt is banking on the Grand Egyptian Museum to help bring the world back to its ancient treasures.
