In a long-awaited global event, Egypt is preparing to inaugurate the Grand Egyptian Museum this coming Saturday, drawing widespread anticipation from enthusiasts of ancient Egyptian civilization around the world.
The Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center announced that the opening will feature an extraordinary event: the full collection of King Tutankhamun will be displayed together for the first time since its discovery over a century ago, showcased in the museum’s state-of-the-art exhibition halls.
Dr. Issa Zidan, Director General of Restoration and Antiquities Transport at the Grand Egyptian Museum, stated that the golden king’s collection comprises 5,398 artifacts gathered from several Egyptian museums, including the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, the Luxor Museum, and the Military Museum.
He explained that the exhibition halls have been equipped with the latest display, lighting, and preservation technologies to offer visitors a unique experience that reflects the brilliance of ancient Egyptian civilization and befits the museum’s status as the largest archaeological complex in the world.
In statements by Dr. Reda Sayed Ahmed, professor of archaeology and ancient Egyptian civilization and former dean of the Faculty of Arts at Mansoura University, said that King Tutankhamun is one of the most prominent rulers of the 18th Dynasty during the New Kingdom. He ascended the throne at a young age and died young as well, after a reign of about ten years.
He added that the discovery of the golden pharaoh’s tomb in 1922 is considered one of the greatest archaeological achievements in modern history. While the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir previously displayed around 1,300 of the young king’s artifacts, the Grand Egyptian Museum will now showcase the entire collection of 5,398 pieces—including the famous golden mask, royal throne, beds, ceremonial chairs, and the king’s personal weapons.
He noted that the new museum spans a vast area and is among the largest in the world, with galleries designed to highlight the grandeur of the exhibits and provide visitors with an exceptional experience that blends authenticity with modern technology.
Dr. Ayman Waziri, professor and head of the Department of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities at the Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University, said that the Grand Egyptian Museum represents a global cultural and civilizational destination. He emphasized that its opening will have an unprecedented economic and investment impact, calling it “Egypt’s gift to the entire world.”
He also noted that the museum houses over 100,000 artifacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian history, including the treasures of King Tutankhamun—one of the most significant and rare archaeological collections in the world—discovered in his famous tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.