The Grand Egyptian Museum will open on November 1st

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the Giza Pyramids, will officially open on November 1st, after several postponements. The date was approved by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al Sisi at a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced yesterday.

In a statement, Egyptian authorities said Madbouly spoke to the various relevant departments and entities to prepare for this event, completing the arrangements underway to ensure everything is ready at the Grand Egyptian Museum and its surroundings for this "historic event, which will be a proud moment for all Egyptians and a milestone on the world cultural map."

Authorities hope the GEM, which houses Tutankhamun 's treasures among its collection of more than 100,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts , will attract visitors from around the world. At 50 hectares, it will be the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization and has been invested in for $1 billion.

Madbouly declared that the inauguration would be an "exceptional event" showcasing Egypt's cultural heritage. It was scheduled for July 3, but was postponed when Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities on June 13, triggering a 12-day war that closed airspace across much of the Middle East.

The project has faced a series of setbacks, including political instability and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorities expect the museum to attract five million visitors a year, providing a significant boost to the tourism industry, a key source of foreign currency for Egypt.