Prominent Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass affirmed that the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1 represents an exceptional global event, one that he called a “historic day” not just for Egypt but for all museums around the world.

He expected that at least 60 kings, presidents, and prime ministers would attend the official opening ceremony of the GEM, further strengthening Egypt’s international standing, RT reported on Sunday.

Hawass noted that the museum has received unprecedented publicity among international museums, adding that global interest in the GEM was evident during his international tours, where he received constant inquiries from people and officials about its opening date.

The archeologist explained that the museum’s fame stems from three main factors: first, it is the largest museum dedicated to one civilization in the world, with an area exceeding that of the Metropolitan Museum by approximately 330 cubic meters; second, its unique location visually links to the Pyramids of Giza; and third, the presence of King Tutankhamun’s collection, which he described as “the unrivaled champion.”

Hawass predicted that the opening day on Saturday will be “a celebration for all museums in the world” as a leading cultural institution.

Grand beginnings

Reflecting on the beginnings of the project, Hawass noted that the idea first began in 2002 at the initiative of painter Farouk Hosny, with the goal of establishing the largest museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian civilization.

He added that as Director of the Giza Antiquities District at the time, and later Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, he contributed to organizing international exhibitions of Tutankhamun’s artifacts, which raised US$120 million.

These funds were used to upgrade the museum’s restoration laboratories and storage facilities.

Hawass emphasized that the museum will achieve significant economic and political gains for Egypt, despite its economic challenges, noting that the allocation of billions of dollars to the project reflects Egypt and its government’s commitment to preserving antiquities as a world heritage.

A momentous opening

Egypt will celebrate the opening of the GEM on Saturday, November 1.

This massive cultural and international project is located near Giza Pyramids Plateau and is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization: ancient Egypt.

The museum aims to display more than 100,000 artifacts, including the complete collection of King Tutankhamun for the first time, in an area of ​​approximately 500,000 square meters.

The museum is expected to become a global tourist attraction, enhancing Egypt’s position as a cultural and tourist destination and supporting the national economy by attracting millions of visitors annually.