History of Grand Egyptian Museum in Timeline

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located in Giza, Egypt, is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, specifically the Egyptian civilization. Its location is approximately two kilometers from the iconic Giza Pyramid Complex. The museum showcases an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, aiming to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience for visitors interested in Egypt's rich history and cultural heritage.

1992: Museum Announced

In 1992, the Grand Egyptian Museum was announced.

January 2002: Architectural Competition Announced

On 7 January 2002, an architectural competition was announced for the building design of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

2002: Foundation Stone Laid

In 2002, the foundation stone for the Grand Egyptian Museum project was laid.

June 2003: Architectural Competition Judging Complete

By 2 June 2003, judging was completed for the architectural competition for the Grand Egyptian Museum. The competition was won by architects Róisín Heneghan and Shi-Fu Peng of Heneghan Peng Architects of Ireland.

2005: Construction Work Begins

In 2005, actual construction work on the Grand Egyptian Museum began.

2006: Conservation Center Established

In 2006, the Grand Egyptian Museum's Conservation Center, one of the largest conservation and restoration centers in the world, was established.

February 2010: Project Management Contract Signed

On 2 February 2010, Egypt's Ministry of Culture signed a contract with a joint venture of Hill International and EHAF Consulting Engineers to provide project management services for the Grand Egyptian Museum.

2010: Conservation Center Opened

In 2010, the Grand Egyptian Museum's Conservation Center opened.

June 2018: Museum Logo Revealed

On 10 June 2018, the museum's logo, designed by Tariq Atrissi, was revealed. The design cost 800,000 Egyptian pounds.

August 2021: Khufu Boat Transferred

In August 2021, the Khufu Boat Museum, dedicated to displaying the two solar boats of King Khufu, was transferred from the Old Giza Museum.

January 2023: First Musical Concert Held

On 20 January 2023, the first musical concert was held in the museum, featuring Egypt's soprano Fatma Said along with the United Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir led by Nader Abbassi.

2023: Museum opening announcement

In 2023, Basem Halaka, the head of the Egyptian Tourist Guides Syndicate, announced that the Grand Egyptian Museum would open by the end of the year.

2023: Museum Completed

In 2023, the Grand Egyptian Museum was fully completed at a cost of $1 billion.

August 2024: Children's Museum Partial Opening

The Children's Museum at GEM, an interactive space for children aged 6 to 12, has been partially open since August 2024.

October 2024: Visitors During Trial Opening

Since October 2024, the Grand Egyptian Museum has received approximately 1.5 million visitors over 10 months, with an average of 4,000 visitors per day during the trial opening.

August 2025: Opening Date Set

On 6 August 2025, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had agreed to set the GEM's opening date for 1 November.

November 2025: Official Opening and Temporary Closure

In November 2025, the Grand Egyptian Museum's official opening date was set for November 1st, with a temporary closure from October 15 to November 3, resuming visits on November 4, the 103rd anniversary of Tutankhamun's tomb discovery.