Egypt's vast $1bn museum to open in Cairo after two-decade build

"A vast $1bn museum billed as the world's largest archaeological facility dedicated to a single civilisation will open outside Cairo on Saturday, after countless delays over the course of its two-decade construction. The Grand Egyptian Museum, located a mile away from the pyramids of Giza, covers an area of 470,000 sq metres. The complex was announced in 1992 but it was not until 2005 that construction began."

"More than 50,000 items will be housed in the museum, including an 83-ton, 3,200-year-old colossus of Ramesses II and a 4,500-year-old boat belonging to Khufu, the pharaoh credited with building the pyramids. The museum includes 24,000 sq metres of permanent exhibition space, a children's museum, conference and educational facilities, a commercial area and a large conservation centre. The 12 main galleries, which opened last year, exhibit antiquities spanning from prehistoric times to the Roman era, organised by era and theme."

The Grand Egyptian Museum opens outside Cairo near the Giza pyramids after roughly two decades of construction and repeated delays. The complex spans 470,000 sq metres and was first announced in 1992, with construction beginning in 2005 and partial soft openings in 2024. The museum will house more than 50,000 artefacts, including an 83-ton colossus of Ramesses II and a 4,500-year-old boat of Khufu. Facilities include 24,000 sq metres of permanent exhibitions, a children's museum, conference and educational spaces, a commercial zone and a conservation centre. Twelve main galleries present antiquities from prehistoric to Roman eras, arranged by era and theme.

Read at www.theguardian.com