On Monday, November 3, after a long wait and years in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) was finally inaugurated. It was an incredible feeling to witness this moment in a country where I’ve spent so much time – a journey that began back in 2010. This marks a defining moment for Egypt, now home to the world’s largest collection of antiquities on display. It’s worth clarifying, however, that while many say the GEM “officially opened” on Monday, the museum has actually opened in stages. With each new section unveiled, we’ve sent our colleague Nour to revisit and document her experiences.
This time around, the long-awaited arrival of King Tut’s artifacts and his dedicated hall, which I had the honor of seeing in 2023, is finally open with a complete display. In addition, many returned and newfound artifacts from all over were added to the display. Truth be told, if you were to stop and see each exhibit in each hall, it would take you no less than 3 hours. Good thing they have two coffee shops (and yes one is a Starbucks). When I first walked through the GEM years ago, I thought travelers came there to see the pyramids and while there, also see the GEM. I learned quickly from that visit way back, that it was in fact the other way around. The GEM is the crown jewel in Egypt’s history, and it’s just the beginning.
As is our custom, with the new development, Nour returned to the GEM and we share a video of what she saw, in raw form, along with her thoughts, written down as she was walking through the GEM. Enjoy this view of the inaugurated GEM through the eyes of a proud Egyptian. Her comments have been unfiltered and unedited to allow you to feel the emotion she felt.
Nour Abouseif: The road leading to the GEM all Egyptian icons. Spans over 6km.
Nour Abouseif: International flags crowning the lampposts. Signifying welcoming all global citizens.
Nour Abouseif: Setting of the grand opening is still up. It’s 10 am and the GEM is super packed.
Nour Abouseif: Took 20 years to finalize. Says that also Khufu took 20 years to build. Spectacular how time repeats itself.
Nour Abouseif: Ramses was the first thing to get moved. Took 10 hours to move. 85 wheeled vehicle moved him. Did a replica first to check if the movement would be successful. Replica of it is now in mansoura. They moved it first and then started building the entire museum.
Nour Abouseif: His daughter. Name consists of two titles Sat nisu daughter of the king. Hemet nisu which was confusing as they didn’t know if it’s the daughter or wife but then related to what we say now in upper Egypt ست أبوها which is the term used for daddy’s girl.
Nour Abouseif: Gem has over 100k pieces, showcases 50k and has continued to alternate the pieces.
Nour Abouseif: Ancient excel sheet. Showing سجلات حربية. Showing everything happened during the war.
Nour Abouseif: Non Egyptian statues – double chin and features. Double chin in statues is a default. Egyptian statues are always perfect and symmetrical whereas Romans aren’t. Found 25 years via frank godoeu. Were found Abu Kir in Alex. Along with other prices. المدينة الغارقة hiracleon.
Nour Abouseif: Original founder was kamal Abouel saadat, غواص مصري. There are still many pieces under the sea. Why were these pieces there at the gem? Because Egyptian culture is based on the support of women to their men. Reason why they are right in front of of the grand stairs all about الرحلة الي الأبدية
Nour Abouseif: As visitors ascend the Grand Staircase, they pass through symbolic temple gates, reminiscent of the sacred entrances of ancient Egypt.
Each gate marks a spiritual threshold — moving from the physical world toward the eternal.
The concept of “بر عنخ” (Per Ankh) literally means “House of Life.”
In ancient Egypt, these were cultural and educational institutions — places where priests, scholars, and artists preserved wisdom, science, and community values.
The design of this space revives that philosophy: The Grand Egyptian Museum stands today as a modern “House of Life”, where knowledge, art, and heritage continue to inspire and educate — bridging ancient civilization with contemporary society.
Nour Abouseif: At the last stage of the Grand Staircase, visitors reach the tombs, marking the culmination of the journey to eternity.
Here, the architecture mirrors ancient beliefs — every life, no matter how powerful, ends in the embrace of eternity.
In pharaonic tradition, a holy funeral was essential — a sacred transition ensuring the soul’s safe passage to the afterlife.
The surrounding light, stone, and geometry evoke the eternal calm of the tombs, reminding visitors that immortality is achieved not by power, but by purpose.
Nour Abouseif: Each illuminated showcase represents a community that once flourished along the Nile, from Upper Egypt to the Delta.
Together, they form a living map of how early Egyptians built their world around the river — where every settlement depended on its flow for life, growth, and connection.
Above, the soft blue lighting symbolizes the eternal current of the Nile, flowing through Egypt’s past and present — a reminder that civilization itself was born from water, rhythm, and renewal.
Nour Abouseif: Ancient Egyptian barbecue.
الحاتي originally from ancient Egyptian حات which means meat.
Nour Abouseif: Primitive look 4500BC.
Comes from تل الفرخة in dakkahlya. By بعثة اطالية in 1978. First image f leader and his son.
Wood that is gold plated. Eyes from lazurde. Necklace is carlinien which is a gem stone and the rest of it is from ostrich egg shells all indicates are of a high position.
Nour Abouseif: In ancient times, Egypt was divided into two lands:
For centuries, the two regions were in constant struggle — until King Narmer (Mina) emerged as the unifier.
The name “Mina” — of Coptic origin, meaning “the founder” — reflects his legacy as the first ruler to unite Upper and Lower Egypt under one crown.
By wearing the Double Crown (التاج المزدوج), Narmer became the first pharaoh of a unified Egypt, marking the beginning of the First Dynasty and the birth of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
Nour Abouseif: Among the highest positions in ancient Egypt was that of the scribe — the thinker, the historian, and the voice of civilization.
This statue, discovered in Hesbet el-Gemeiz (حسب الجميز), depicts a scribe with ancient Egyptian eyeliner, symbolizing clarity and alertness — a detail that connects to the Egyptian verb “مءا”, meaning to gaze or observe deeply (يبحلق).
The figure is covered in plaster, preserving the vibrant pigments that reveal the rich colors of ancient Egyptian art.
“The voice of the people will perish, but the voice of the scribe will last forever.”
A reminder that while empires fade, the written word endures — and it is through the scribes that Egypt still speaks today.
Nour Abouseif: False door – door that is not true only place in the tomb. Offerings to be placed. Just like we do now. Offerings for spirituality reason. انت المعبد و فيك يسكن الإله
Nour Abouseif: They loved music too/ not all serious also enjoyed leisure time.
Woke up at sunrise worked till afternoon and then leisure time followed by sleep: harmony to life.
Nour Abouseif: Thurmose II or amenhotep II start of the golden age. This kings original name is gehuti Mes which is modern day abdelhakim – son of wisdom. Ruled over 17 wars without losing a single one. First man to make zoo. First ruler who brought Egypt chickens.
Nour Abouseif: Queen Hatshepsut – reason tuhutmose II entered the army. And raised him to be a great warrior. She ruled for 22 years and had great achievements and was a great time for peace and money making for ancient Egyptian history
Nour Abouseif: Ekhtnaton – even art changes in that times. Large lips and almond eyes.
Nour Abouseif: Bamboon monkeys not for religion. But used them to divide the days as by nature they pee every hour and used them as an alarm. With sunrise they climb the trees and sun gaze as the sun rises and once the sun rises they scream in celebration
Nour Abouseif: 6 statues for sekhmet. Used the terms neter to refer to kings and queens. Which symbolized the nature of strengths for all rulers not by gender. Sekhmet was done using the face of a lioness and the lioness is the one that plans and executes
Nour Abouseif: I’m about to enter King Tut!
Drum roll
Nour Abouseif: At the highest point of the gem
Nour Abouseif: Can you feel the crowd
Nour Abouseif: Entering king tut hall
Nour Abouseif: Tut was and still is a trend
Nour Abouseif: In November 4, 1922, a young Egyptian boy named Hussein Abdelrasoul, while fetching water in the Valley of the Kings, stumbled upon what would become the greatest archaeological discovery in history — the tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62).
When Howard Carter peered through the small opening into the sealed chamber and was asked what he saw, his reply became immortal:
“I see wonderful things.”
That moment ignited a global fascination — Egyptomania, and specifically, Tutmania. Tutankhamun became not just a pharaoh, but a phenomenon — inspiring art, fashion, films, and imagination around the world.
The Egyptian film “المومياء” (The Mummy), starring Shady Abdel Salam, later captured this sense of wonder — the timeless dialogue between the living and the dead, between discovery and destiny.
Standing here today, on the anniversary of that discovery, the story comes full circle.
The treasures once hidden in the Valley now live again in the Grand Egyptian Museum — proof that Egypt’s wonders were never lost, only waiting to be seen anew.
Nour Abouseif: The symbol and the bottom showcasing black kemet – yellow dishrit which is desert land and the white peaks of the mountains which are white in color on LXR
A Sneak Peek.
Dear Advisor Partners,
When it comes to Egypt, one of the most frequent questions we receive is when will the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) open? Well, everything is a good guess at this stage, and anyone providing a hard opening date is also sharing an estimate. The commercial or common area of the GEM has been open, and Big Five includes that visit in every adventure to Egypt with a fee for special access inside one of the halls while work at the GEM is completed. We are getting inside information all the time on the status of the GEM and have been really good at sharing updates on the opening only when we have credible information. However, one thing was still missing. How does a visit to the GEM make you feel? Well, we got our answer this week when Big Five Egypt team member, Nour Abouseif, visited the museum on a weekend when locals were invited to visit the GEM on a guided tour of the open areas. We made a video of Nour’s visit and shared her thoughts below. Before we jump in, there are a few things to remember. The Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest museum in the world, built on 117 acres, and will include a movie theater and a children’s museum with 3D capability when fully complete. There will be over 60,000 artifacts in this museum at any given point. Noting those facts helps me realize why the GEM is taking so long to complete.
Our journey with Nour starts with the approach to the GEM. It is here that you fully realize how large the structure is. Now, I’ve seen this structure when visiting the pyramids however, seeing it from Nour’s perspective was really special. Nour was transmitting her notes to me live as she walked through the museum, and you could feel her excitement through her words.
1:58 pm – The excitement builds. This is the road leading up. I’m about to enter.
2:01 pm – The tour is about to begin. This is the largest museum in the world. There will be a few hotels here, and eventually, you will even be able to walk to the pyramids.
2:07 pm – Nobody, I mean NOBODY knows when the museum will officially open in full. It feels close though.
2:17 pm – The Hanging Obelisk is the only one of its kind in the world, though it is one of the smallest in Egypt, weighing 60 tons. It belonged to Ramses II, known as, the greatest and the saddest king. Part of the obelisk is cut into two pieces. Ramses wrote his name on the base so that no one ever removed it. The black base at the bottom highlights that.
2:18 pm – the museum is built on two axis points horizontally. Based on the great Khufu and Menkaura, built on an amazing design where you feel the humidity as soon as you enter. There is an open ceiling that allows sunlight in.
2:20 pm – The feeling as soon as you enter is one of awe. Ramses welcomes you as soon as you enter. Best. Welcome. Ever.
2:34 pm – This is the first piece to have arrived here at the GEM.
7:35 pm – Ramses II is not only the greatest king but not a single city is free of his name. He left his mark everywhere. He is the saddest king at the same time because he buried 50 of his children when he was alive.
7:38 pm – Nefertari says hi! When you come here, check her hand. She supports Ramses. We have an Egyptian proverb that says “انا بسندك” which translates to I’ve got your back.
7:41 pm – I’m thinking of becoming an Egyptologist after this tour! What an amazing world of knowledge and art.
7:44 pm – There are foreigners here visiting the common areas.
7:46 pm – Do you see the signs of the duck? It means son or daughter. Why? Here in Egypt whenever a baby arrives, we refer to him as “بطوط” which means duck. This just shows you how amazing our culture is. It transcends time, even when we don’t notice. Many of our common practices date back to 7,000 years ago, if not more.
7:48 pm – I found Maat! She is the founder of mathematics and she is the God of justice. I found it on the back of the statue of Ramses II. She is holding the key of life. Ramses loved Maat as she was full of life. She is depicted as the beginning of life. You even see the womb.
2:52 pm – The 4 halls are here but are closed. When they open, however, hall number one is for the statues of the forgotten kings, and hall number two is for large events.
2:54 pm – So much thought went into this design. On October 22, there is a small open part of the window that will let sunlight in through just the right angle that it will hit the column and shine a light on Ramses II.
2:59 pm – The reason for the inclined floor you see is because this is how Egypt is built, on an uphill. Even the church is an uphill. The tombs are also an uphill, because the holiest part is the closest to the sky. More stairs! They symbolize the stairs of life. As you walk up, you reduce the number of days in your life and become closer to the sky.
3:02 pm – The King Tut area! The excitement if wanting to see it is… agggghhhhh!!!! Tons and tons of gold were found in his tomb. The King Tut mask is still at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
3:04 pm – There is still some construction. I can’t see a lot of it but I hear it.
3:10 pm – Did you know all statues, the left feet are aways at the front.
3:15 pm – I found Horus! Cats were glorified because they symbolize motherhood. This shows that females in ancient Egypt. It’s just great seeing all this history!
3:20 pm – one more thing which was amazing to learn. What is referred to as khartoush is known as shen and what is written inside is referred to as renn, this was only for the kings. We have another Egyptian proverb which states, “لو شن و رن” علي in francoarabe “lee shana w rana” which means has a great position. So again another thing that showcases how culture can never be changed, it just evolves.
3:43 pm – All this and we didn’t even see 1/100 of what will be available! I’m on my way out. Wow!
We can’t wait for the Grand Egyptian Museum to fully open. We know it will be historic and our best guess is that this may happen in the next few months. In the meantime enjoy the video of Nour’s visit. While nobody knows the actual opening date of the GEM, you can see the impact of even visiting the commercial area is in some ways even more powerful than the actual opening. What impact will a visit have on you?
