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The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo is finally expected to open to visitors this month, 11 years after the original proposed date.
A dazzling new structure has been built near the Giza Pyramids to house many of the most valuable antiquities on Earth – and it maps Egypt’s millennia under the rule of the Pharaohs.
The Grand Egyptian Museum, as it is known, is largely intended to replace the existing Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in central Cairo. But the billion-dollar project has faced logistical, political and financial delays.
Nowadays, visitors can pay to visit the entrance lobby, which is dominated by the 3,200-year-old, 36-foot-tall statue of Ramesses II. It is so wide that buildings were built around it.
But access to the galleries housing thousands of antiquities is prohibited. “I heard there will be a partial opening before the end of October,” Philip Brickner, director of specialist tour operator Discover Egypt, told The Independent’s travel podcast.
It is understood that Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly gave his approval for the opening of several halls early on Wednesday.
The main exhibition consists of 12 halls classified by family. It seems that the intention is to open the halls gradually until the official opening in early 2025.
But Tutankhamun’s collection will remain in the original Egyptian Museum for the time being.
A year ago, a new airport – Sphinx International – was opened east of Cairo. It allows easy access to Giza, the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum without traveling through the Egyptian capital.
Brickner said that many new tombs and sites have been opened along the Nile River on the west bank near Luxor. “There is additional access to the Valley of the Nobles and the Valley of the Workers – some areas that were not fully open in the past.”
EasyJet, Britain’s largest low-cost airline, will start twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick to Luxor on 11 November.
Some potential tourists have been turning away due to the growing tension in the Middle East. But Mr. Brickner said: “Egyptian life on the streets, in shops, hotels and on cruises is completely normal – and completely oblivious to events happening outside the country and in neighboring countries.
“Egypt is in dire need of tourism. Its main income stream, the Suez Canal, is being severely affected at the moment.”
The Foreign Office’s latest travel advice says: “Terrorists are very likely to attempt attacks in Egypt.
“The authorities in Egypt have a significant security presence across the country, including armed security officers at important sites, critical infrastructure and road checkpoints. Additional measures have been taken at tourist sites.
Listen to Simon Calder’s daily travel podcast
