The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, establishing itself as one of the world’s largest showcases of ancient relics and a high-tech hub for heritage conservation.

After nearly two decades of construction, the 500,000-square-meter complex was inaugurated on the Giza Plateau, just two kilometers from the Pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a major milestone in Egypt’s effort to preserve and promote its archaeological legacy.

The museum’s main galleries display thousands of previously stored antiquities for the first time, including the complete collection of 5,992 artifacts from the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamun.

In addition to acting as a major catalyst for Egypt's tourism sector, the GEM also serves as a hub for scientific research and restoration, housing one of the Middle East's largest and most advanced conservation and restoration centers.

"It's a museum that embraces the latest scientific innovations, using state-of-the-art technology to restore and conserve artifacts," Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the GEM told Xinhua.

He emphasized the museum's broader role, noting it is not only a museum, but rather it is a hub for education, scientific research, and heritage preservation.

"We aim to receive 15,000 to 20,000 visitors daily, and approximately 7 million visitors annually," he said, noting that the number of visitors on its first public day reached about 18,000.

The GEM also houses one of the largest and most advanced conservation centers in the Middle East, serving as a hub for scientific research and restoration.

Abdulaziz Sultan, head of the packaging and transport team at the GEM, said the museum’s specialized staff had transferred 57,000 artifacts to the site. “Our team gained extensive experience in packaging and restoration, and we now provide training to experts from other countries,” he told Xinhua.

The opening of the museum is a cornerstone of Egypt’s plan to attract 30 million tourists annually by 2030. Tourism is a vital part of the national economy and one of the country’s top sources of foreign currency.

Visitors expressed admiration and national pride. Wendy Powers, a tourist from the United States, said she was “amazed by the matchless treasures of the young king,” while Cairo resident Mohammed Khaled described walking through the museum as “like walking into the future.”

Construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum began in 2005, but progress was slowed by political instability and funding challenges over the years.

Source: Xinhwa News Agency