His Serene Highness Prince Albert II joined world leaders and dignitaries in Cairo on November 1 for the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), now the world’s largest archaeological museum…
Standing in the shadow of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the vast $1.2 billion complex houses over 100,000 artefacts spanning 7,000 years of Egyptian history, from the earliest dynasties to the Greco-Roman period.
For the first time, visitors can experience the complete contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb as discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, including the boy king’s iconic golden mask, throne, and chariots. The museum also showcases monumental treasures such as a colossal statue and obelisk of Ramses II and the 4,500-year-old Khufu funerary boat, one of antiquity’s best-preserved vessels.
Egyptologists have described the opening as a milestone for global heritage and a powerful call for the repatriation of key antiquities, including the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum and Nefertiti’s bust from Berlin.
Prince Albert II’s presence underscored Monaco’s ongoing commitment to cultural diplomacy and the preservation of world heritage. The GEM, covering more than 500,000 square metres, is expected to attract up to eight million visitors annually, a triumph of archaeology, architecture, and national pride.
