The official opening of Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that was slated for July 3 has yet again been delayed. Egyptian prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a press conference on Saturday that the museum won’t fully open until the final quarter of this year, citing “current regional developments.”
While Madbouly did not specify what developmemts he was referring to, conflict erupted between Israel and Iran last week after Israel launched airstrikes on Friday. Iran quickly followed with retailiatory strikes.
“In light of the current regional developments, it has been decided to postpone the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum,” the GEM explained in a statement on social media. A new date will be determined “following coordination with all relevant authorities to ensure the organization of an event that reflects Egypt’s prominent cultural and tourism status on the international stage.”
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Though Egypt is not directly involved in the conflict, the institution said it decided to postpone the official inauguration out of a “national responsibility” in what will hopefully be a more auspicious time.
“This decision also stems from Egypt’s national responsibility and its commitment to presenting a truly exceptional global event in an atmosphere worthy of the grandeur of Egyptian civilization and its unique heritage, and in a way that ensures broad international participation aligned with the significance of the occasion,” the statement continued.
Since the museum plans were first announced in 1992, there have been a number of reasons for previous delays, including most recently political unrest in nearby Gaza and Sudan, the Covid-19 pandemic, and internal economic struggles.
The GEM, however, has already partially opened, with 12 main galleries on view since late October 2024. It is considered a large part of Egypt’s future in terms of both economic generation and cultural tourism, which involves a major redevelopment of the Giza plateau. Perhaps even more significantly, the museum marks a kind of reclamation of Egyptian history within its own boarders.