5 Things You Should Know About Egypt’s GEM – The Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization—the ancient Egyptian civilization. Spanning an impressive 500,000 square meters, GEM is twice the size of the Louvre Museum and two and a half times the size of the British Museum. It houses a vast collection of over 100,000 artifacts from the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman eras.

For the first time since their discovery in 1922, the Grand Egyptian Museum will showcase the complete treasures of 5,000 artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb including 2,000 artifacts to be displayed for the first time to the public. These extraordinary artifacts offer a glimpse into the life, wealth, and craftsmanship of ancient Egypt’s most famous boy king.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is not just a museum—it is a multifaceted cultural center offering a wide range of educational, research, and entertainment facilities. Set to house the largest archaeological library specialized in Egyptology, a state-of-the-art research and restoration center, and an education and training hub dedicated to museum professionals. The museum also features a conference center with a theater, two auditoriums, and dedicated educational spaces, as well as an arts and crafts center offering workshops and cultural programs.

Khufu’s first boat which is 42 meters long and weighs 20 tons was transported as one piece in a journey that lasted 10 hours from the Pyramids of Giza Plateau to the Grand Egyptian Museum back in 2021. The solar boat was moved after almost a year of designing and manufacturing a safe trip for the biggest, oldest and most valuable organic monument, wooden made in human history. The Khufu Boat Courtyard and Museum at the Grand Egyptian Museum spans over 6,000 square meters. Khufu’s second Boat, which has had its beams removed from its original pit in Giza Plateau to the GEM for restoration and reconstruction, will be exhibited beside its twin.

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is an architectural marvel, blending modern innovation with ancient inspiration. Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects after a global competition in 2002 that drew over 1,550 conceptual design submissions from 83 international architects.
The museum’s folded roof, spanning 33,000 square meters, aligns with the axis of the Pyramids of Giza, with each panel uniquely crafted. Its 46-meter-high, 600-meter-long façade features a translucent stone wall composed of 42 triangular structures and seven pyramid-like shapes. The colossal Statue of Ramses II stands in the 7,000-square-meter Grand Hall, where a celestial alignment on October 22 and February 22 mirrors the sun’s illumination of Ramses II’s face in parallel with the same phenomenon occurring in his temple at Abu Simbel. The 500,000-square-meter complex includes state-of-the-art conservation facilities, a multi-purpose cultural center, and an underground tunnel for artifact transport. Designed with sustainable features, including natural cooling systems and wind circulation, GEM is not just a museum but a 21st-century architectural wonder.