Egypt will open its $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids on November 1, aiming to boost tourism with 100,000 artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s treasures.
Egypt has finally rescheduled the long-awaited opening of its billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) for November 1. The delay was caused by regional conflict. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi officially declared the new date and asked the government bodies to make the arrangements, as per a statement from the Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday.
The museum was supposed to open on July 3. But, due to the regional conflict, primarily due to the attacks launched by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities, the date is now shifted to November 1. Egyptian officials stated while cancelling the summer launch.
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Located just a mile from the iconic Giza pyramids, the GEM has been under development for nearly two decades. Envisioned as a major driver of tourism, the 120-acre site is being billed as 'the world’s largest archaeological museum' and is already partly open to visitors. When fully operational, it is expected to host around 100,000 artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
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Officials believe that the new cultural landmark will work as a tourist magnet and will garner approximately 5 million visitors annually. This will bring a very positive impact on the Egyptian tourism industry, a vital sector for the nation's economy.
