Japan-supported Grand Egyptian Museum marks first year of operations

Cairo – The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), built with Japanese support on the outskirts of Cairo, marked its first anniversary Sunday.

During its first year of operations, the museum attracted over 5 million visitors despite the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

The museum in the city of Giza houses over 100,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the golden mask and other funerary items from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

To commemorate its first anniversary, the GEM will host a special nighttime show from this month through the end of April next year. Using lighting and music, the show recreates scenes from ancient Egyptian life, including the flooding of the Nile and crop harvesting.

GEM CEO Ahmed Ghoneim told reporters that the museum had achieved its goal of attracting more tourists to the pyramid area, highlighting its contribution to local tourism.

Located near the three pyramids in Giza, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the GEM is one of the world’s largest archaeological museums. Japanese experts have assisted in restoring excavated artifacts and training local technicians.

“I couldn’t see all the exhibits even after spending three and a half hours,” said Hideyuki Ninomiya, a 52-year-old company employee from Tokyo who visited the museum. “Tutankhamun’s coffin and golden mask were particularly impressive.”