On the evening of Oct. 31, the Grand Egyptian Museum lit up not in the spirit of Halloween, but for its lavish inauguration. Dignitaries, celebrities, and thousands of guests gathered to celebrate what Egyptian media described as “a moment where time, history, and emotion come together in one scene that says: Egypt always knows how to do it.” Among the honoured guests were world leaders and diplomats, including King Felipe of Spain and Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, among others. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his wife took centre stage, visibly moved at what many Egyptians regarded as the symbolic beginning of a new era. The opening ceremony included musical performances, video montages, celebrity appearances, fireworks, and an extravagant drone show.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is the sixth-largest museum in the world and the largest dedicated to a single civilization. When visitors enter, they are greeted by the towering statue of Ramses II, which stands at about 11 meters tall. It was previously located in central Cairo until 2006. The Great Hall is designed with natural lighting and a ventilation system that protects the artifacts. The museum houses over 100,000 artifacts, and the King Tutankhamun Hall is so extensive that it is considered an entire museum on its own. The Grand Staircase, spanning 6,000 square meters and rising across six floors, offers a breathtaking view of the Pyramids from just 2 kilometers away. There are 12 massive open halls with no internal walls arranged in a special layout. Visitors can also enjoy a food court, prayer room, clinic, children’s museum, and a museum dedicated to Khufu’s boats, as well as a conference hall.

The museum officially opened to the public on Nov.4, following the grand celebration. This opening was a long time coming — announced first in 1992 but delayed multiple times due to the Arab Spring and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grand Egyptian Museum costs a whopping 1.2 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Egypt announced earlier this year that the country’s total external debt reached $161.23 billion in June 2025, having risen from $156.69 billion this past March, an increase of $4.54 billion. Egypt’s external debt has grown by almost $6 billion since the start of 2025, after standing at $155.1 billion in December 2024. Many criticized the extravagant celebrations marking the museum’s opening, arguing that such displays of grandeur and large-scale costly projects, felt out of touch at a time when millions of Egyptians are struggling with poverty, inflation, and food insecurity. Despite the controversy surrounding economic hardship, many flooded the streets of Cairo to celebrate with flags and drums. Egyptian social media exploded with photos, videos, and messages expressing national pride and excitement for the country’s cultural achievement.