With much pomp and circumstance, Cairo is due to inaugurate on Saturday the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum, widely presented as the crowning jewel on authorities' efforts to overhaul the country's vital tourism industry.

With a panoramic view of the Giza pyramids plateau, the GEM houses thousands of artifacts spanning more than 5,000 years of Egyptian antiquity at a whopping cost of over $1 billion.

More than two decades in the making, the ultra-modern museum anticipates five million visitors annually, with never-before-seen relics on display.

In the run-up to the grand opening, Egyptian media and official statements have hailed the "historic moment," describing the museum as "Egypt's gift to the world" and a "new chapter in the history of Egyptian civilization."

Preparations for the much-delayed inauguration have been shrouded in secrecy.

Authorities have not named the dignitaries expected to attend, but have promised "kings, princes, heads of state and government leaders."

Organizers have also been tight-lipped on the new display for the iconic gold mask of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Starting Tuesday, the museum will be open to regular visitors who can view 4,500 of about 5,000 funerary objects previously scattered across the country, including at the colonial-era Egyptian Museum in central Cairo.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday held a high-level meeting "dedicated to advancing preparations" for the inauguration, according to an official statement.

During the meeting, Sisi urged enhanced coordination to ensure the opening ceremony is held "in a manner befitting Egypt's position, reflecting its leadership in the field of museums and global culture, and contributing to the promotion of tourism in the country."

"Emphasis was placed on the symbolic dimension of GEM, which is set to become an international cultural and scientific hub, contributing to enhancing tourism promotion in Egypt," the statement added.

During a final inspection visit to the site on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the event reflected Egypt's role "as a cradle of civilization and a global leader in culture and museum innovation."

The inauguration had been set for July 3, but was postponed when Israel attacked Iran on June 13, sparking a 12-day war that closed airspace across much of the Middle East.

Even before that, the project had faced a series of setbacks, including political unrest and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a bid to reach the widest audience possible, Egyptian state-linked conglomerate United Media Services announced a strategic partnership with TikTok seeking to "share Egypt's unparalleled civilizational story with audiences across the globe."

Following years of instability, Egypt's tourism industry—which accounts for about 10% of the country's workforce—has been recovering.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, tourism revenues stood at $14.4 billion, up 34.6% compared to the previous year.

Around 15 million tourists have visited Egypt in the first nine months of 2025, accounting for $12.5 billion in revenues and marking a 21% increase on the same period last year.

© 2025 AFP