Good morning, friends, welcome to issue number 3 of our special series, Unveiling the GEM. It’s been 10 days since the official inauguration and we are still reveling in all things ancient Egypt. If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit the GEM in person, we give you a snapshot of some of the museum’s main galleries and exhibition spaces including the spectacular Tutankhamun galleries, so that you know what to expect when you do visit.

In today’s issue, We also take a close look at the environmentally-friendly construction of the GEM which has earned it the title of the first green museum in Africa and the Middle East, and we explore the impact of the GEM on West Cairo real estate.

The grand opening momentum has continued for the second week, peaking on Friday and Saturday when attendance surpassed the maximum capacity on Friday and Saturday, a government source told us.

The momentum carried over to the Giza Pyramids, which hit another record high on Friday with more than 35k tickets sold, the source added.

Daily visitors to the museum currently average between 17k and 20k, rising significantly on weekends, Grand Egyptian Museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim said to EnterpriseAM, adding that the surge reflects the museum’s unparalleled cultural and historical value.

New booking system activated: The Grand Egyptian Museum has launched an online booking system for weekend and public holidays only, allowing visitors to book their tickets in advance to prevent overcrowding.

The timed-entry system will be launched soon, Ghoneim told us, adding that during weekdays, tickets can still be purchased both online and at on-site ticket counters, ensuring smooth visitor flow and an optimal experience inside the museum.

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