President El Sisi Inaugurates Grand Egyptian Museum Amid Global Royal Attendance
Giza
Spanning 500,000 sqm in Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum showcases King Tutankhamun’s complete treasures and over 100,000 artefacts — a bridge between Egypt’s past and future
Cairo – 2 November 2025 (Adnan Hameed) : The Grand Egyptian Museum has officially opened its doors, marking a truly historic and cultural milestone for Egypt and the world. To commemorate this momentous occasion, royals, dignitaries, and distinguished guests from across the globe gathered in Cairo to witness the grand unveiling.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, graciously attended the ceremony on behalf of His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflecting the enduring bonds of friendship and cultural cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Also in attendance were several members of regional royal families, including Queen Rania of Jordan, who was joined by daughter Princess Salma; Oman’s Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham; Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, attends the official opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
The inauguration was held in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who greeted dignitaries with his wife, Entissar Amer El Sisi.
President El Sisi hailed the museum as opening a “new chapter” for the nation. Egypt was “writing a new chapter in the story of this ancient nation’s present and future,” he told the gathered crowd, which included 79 international delegations, including 39 heads of state and government.
The opening ceremony began with an official group photograph of the attending delegations, followed by a musical symphony, accompanied by a drone and light show that illustrated the architectural harmony between the museum’s design and the Pyramids of Giza.
The performances on the night included the debut of a piece written for the opening by Egyptian composer Hesham Nazih.
Distinguished international royals graced the occasion, including Japan’s Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Prince Albert of Monaco, Queen Mary of Denmark, King Philippe of Belgium, King Felipe VI of Spain, Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand, and Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies accompanied by Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro.
The event also saw a rare stage appearance by the legendary Egyptian actress Sherihan, who captivated the audience alongside a group of dancers dressed in elegant golden costumes and black wigs. Notable Egyptian actors — Ahmed Malek, Huda El Mufti, Ahmed Ghozzi, Salma Abudeif, and Yasmina El Abd — also participated in the ceremony, donning magnificent traditional Pharaonic attire that brought ancient Egypt to life.
The Grand Egyptian Museum officially opens its doors to the public on Tuesday, following a soft opening on Saturday.
Home to an extraordinary collection of ancient artefacts, the museum proudly showcases the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun—displayed together for the very first time since the discovery of his tomb in November 1922.
With over 100,000 artefacts, nearly half of which are on display, it stands as the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation, as highlighted by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in his inaugural address.
Sprawling across 500,000 square metres and offering a breathtaking view of the Giza Pyramids, the museum complex features 12 grand exhibition halls surrounded by lush landscaped gardens covering 120,000 square metres. It presents a remarkable journey through Egypt’s rich history—from prehistoric times and the age of the Pharaohs to the Greco-Roman period.
