The Grand Egyptian Museum, which has faced significant delays, is set to partially open its main galleries on Wednesday, featuring 12 halls dedicated to the exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
This opening marks a trial phase ahead of the official launch, which has yet to be announced, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday. Located near the iconic Giza Pyramids, this ambitious project has incurred costs exceeding $1 billion and will accommodate 4,000 visitors daily starting Wednesday, according to Al-Tayeb Abbas, the assistant to the minister of antiquities.
Construction of the museum has spanned over a decade, with the overall opening date still pending due to various setbacks, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Certain sections have been accessible since 2022 for limited tours.
The museum is expected to showcase more than 100,000 artifacts from Egypt’s ancient history, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world, as reported by the Egyptian state information website.
Abbas indicated to the Associated Press that the trial run commencing Wednesday aims to facilitate preparations for the full opening by addressing operational challenges, such as potential overcrowding in specific areas of the museum.
