The official opening of Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that was slated for July 3 has but once more been delayed. Egyptian prime minister Mostafa Madbouly mentioned in a press conference on Saturday that the museum received’t totally open till the ultimate quarter of this yr, citing “present regional developments.”
Whereas Madbouly didn’t specify what developmemts he was referring to, conflict erupted between Israel and Iran final week after Israel launched airstrikes on Friday. Iran rapidly adopted with retailiatory strikes.
“In mild of the present regional developments, it has been determined to postpone the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum,” the GEM defined in a statement on social media. A brand new date might be decided “following coordination with all related authorities to make sure the group of an occasion that displays Egypt’s outstanding cultural and tourism standing on the worldwide stage.”
Although Egypt is just not immediately concerned within the battle, the establishment mentioned it determined to postpone the official inauguration out of a “nationwide duty” in what’s going to hopefully be a extra auspicious time.
“This resolution additionally stems from Egypt’s nationwide duty and its dedication to presenting a very distinctive international occasion in an environment worthy of the grandeur of Egyptian civilization and its distinctive heritage, and in a manner that ensures broad worldwide participation aligned with the importance of the event,” the assertion continued.
For the reason that museum plans have been first introduced in 1992, there have been quite a lot of causes for earlier delays, together with most just lately political unrest in close by Gaza and Sudan, the Covid-19 pandemic, and inside financial struggles.
The GEM, nonetheless, has already partially opened, with 12 main galleries on view since late October 2024. It’s thought of a big a part of Egypt’s future by way of each financial era and cultural tourism, which includes a serious redevelopment of the Giza plateau. Maybe much more considerably, the museum marks a sort of reclamation of Egyptian historical past inside its personal boarders.
