Prince Albert II of Monaco joined over eighty world leaders and dignitaries in Cairo on 1st November for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a cultural and architectural landmark set to become the world’s largest archaeological museum.
At the personal invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al‑Sissi, Prince Albert II travelled to Cairo for the inauguration ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a project that has taken two decades to complete and is hailed as a transformative moment in Egypt’s cultural renaissance. Greeted by President Al‑Sissi and the First Lady, the Prince took part in the high-profile ceremony alongside monarchs, heads of state, and global leaders.
A tribute to ancient heritage
The Prince described the moment as a major step forward in the preservation of Egypt’s history, underlining the museum’s importance in passing on the legacy of ancient civilisations to future generations. “The discovery of this museum and its remarkable collections will contribute to showcasing an invaluable cultural heritage,” ” said Prince Albert. His remarks echoed the wider sentiment of those present, who recognised the museum’s global significance as both a scholarly institution and a tourist destination.
A journey through five thousand years
Following the ceremony, Prince Albert was among the first official visitors to explore the museum’s extensive galleries. Of particular note was the treasure of Tutankhamun, unearthed in 1922 from an untouched tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The museum, dedicated to five millennia of history and 30 pharaonic dynasties, offers sweeping views of the nearby Giza pyramids and provides one of the most comprehensive displays of Ancient Egyptian artefacts ever assembled under one roof.
A vision realised
The Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a symbol of modern Egypt’s commitment to culture, education, and heritage. Spanning over 480,000 square metres and built just outside Cairo, the museum houses more than 100,000 artefacts and aims to attract millions of visitors annually, positioning itself as a central hub for archaeology and scholarship.
The new face of ancient Egypt
Welcoming visitors in the main atrium is a towering eleven-metre-high statue of Ramses II, a pharaoh whose reign defined an era of Egyptian grandeur. This awe-inspiring figure now watches over the entrance of what has officially become the largest archaeological museum in the world — a new cultural beacon rising from the sands of Giza.
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Photos credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace