Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
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Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)

Egypt opened a series of galleries to the public on Tuesday in its flagship new museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the pyramids of Giza.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly last week announced a "trial opening" ahead of a formal inauguration. Egyptian officials say a number of world leaders have expressed interest in attending the official opening but have not indicated when this will take place.

Pharaonic statues are showcased at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

The museum's main entrance hall with its stairway of Pharaonic statues and an annex for commercial shopping opened to the public in February 2023.

Ali Abu Al-Shish, a member of the Egyptian Archaeologists Union who attended Tuesday's opening of almost a dozen galleries, said the trial operation of the vast museum was evidence Egypt now had the space to exhibit its antiquities, including those being returned by Western states and museums.

It's an "important message that we can recover our antiquities, which are spread across various countries in the world," he said.

Visiting Russian tourist Kseniia Muse said: "We are so happy to be here, to have visited these beautiful sculptures... It is very modern and at the same time you can touch the ancient."

Pharaonic statues are displayed at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Tourism is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The government has been trying to increase tourist numbers after facing a long-running foreign currency shortage that was exacerbated by external shocks.

Until now, Egypt's most famous collections have been housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has been largely unmodernized and unrenovated since opening in 1902.



Saudi Arabia Opens Pavilion at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025

The Saudi pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Opens Pavilion at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025

The Saudi pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia inaugurated its pavilion today at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025, which runs from April 26 to May 5, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

The pavilion showcases the Kingdom’s remarkable achievements in literature, publishing, and translation.

Led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, the Kingdom’s participation in the 34th edition of the fair includes contributions from several prominent entities, including the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, Princess Nourah University, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, and the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran.

The pavilion features a dedicated section for the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures—an initiative of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission—designed to promote research and partnerships that support cultural translation as a bridge between civilizations.

This platform facilitates communication and the exchange of expertise with visitors and stakeholders from the publishing and cultural sectors worldwide, reflecting the vibrancy of Saudi Arabia’s cultural movement and its commitment to regional and international cooperation.

Through its participation, the Kingdom seeks to strengthen cultural ties with the United Arab Emirates, building on a shared literary and intellectual heritage. Ongoing joint initiatives in literature, publishing, and translation have bolstered this collaboration, supporting the two nations’ aspirations to cultivate an integrated Gulf cultural scene capable of presenting a unified and high-quality voice to the world.