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.
Standing at the threshold of the Grand Egyptian Museum, visitors encounter something unprecedented in the history of museums: over 50k artifacts arranged chronologically from approximately 3100 BC to 400 CE, representing the largest collection ever assembled to tell the story of a single civilization. This is not only a museum, but a monument to human achievement, where millennia of artistic brilliance, technological innovation, and cultural sophistication unfold across gallery after gallery.
Alongside larger-than-life statues of pharaohs and gods stand everyday objects that humanize our ancestors: cosmetic containers revealing ancient beauty practices, children’s toys speaking to timeless play, tools demonstrating technological sophistication, and jewelry showcasing artistic mastery. This democratic approach to curation acknowledges that understanding a civilization requires examining not just its kings and gods, but its farmers, artisans, merchants, and families.
THE BEGINNING OF ETERNITY: THE GRAND STAIRCASE
Before entering the galleries themselves, visitors ascend the museum’s centerpiece: a six-story Grand Staircase. This transitional gallery features more than 60 artifacts — anchored by ten limestone statues of King Senusret I from the 12th Dynasty — creating a narrative spine through Egyptian history. Along the ascent, visitors encounter statues of King Seti I carved from pink granite, a quartzite statue from the Middle Kingdom, statues of King Seti II and Amenhotep III from the New Kingdom, and a rare depiction of Queen Hatshepsut.
At the top, visitors are rewarded for the climb with a stunning panoramic view of the Giza Pyramids through a soaring glass wall.
THE TUTANKHAMUN GALLERIES
The opening of the two galleries dedicated to the famous boy king represents the crowning moment of the Grand Museum's inauguration after years of anticipation. These spaces hold priceless treasures from his tomb, discovered intact in Luxor in 1920 by Egyptian child Hussein Abdel Rasoul, whose name was honored during the opening ceremony as the tomb's true discoverer.
Tutankhamun's tomb stands as the twentieth century's most significant archaeological discovery. The artifacts and treasures found within reveal the genius of ancient Egyptian artistry, golden masterpieces that continue to mesmerize the world today.
The Tutankhamun galleries span an impressive 7.5k square meters, roughly six times larger than their previous home at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. They showcase more than 5.5k golden artifacts, many displayed publicly for the first time.
The golden funerary mask remains the museum's crown jewel, transferred from Tahrir for this historic opening. Weighing approximately 11 kilograms and measuring 54 cm in height by 39 cm in width, the mask captivates every visitor.
The galleries also feature golden necklaces, funerary furniture including ornate coffins, and personal possessions that accompanied the young king on his journey to the afterlife, alongside exhibits documenting his family and dynasty.
THE SOLAR BOAT MUSEUM
Beyond the Tutankhamun galleries lies the home to King Khufu's legendary vessels. This museum houses ancient funerary ships, discovered near the Great Pyramid at Giza. Known as Solar Boats in reference to the sun god Ra, these vessels were buried alongside Khufu to serve him in the afterlife. Remarkably, these ships were constructed entirely from cedar wood without a single nail, representing a true engineering marvel of the ancient world.
If a visitor were to spend one minute looking at each artifact on display, it would take almost 70 sleepless days to view the entire collection. Here through these 12 galleries, for the first time, objects scattered across Egypt’s museums and storage facilities in Cairo, Luxor, Minya, Sohag, Assiut, Beni Suef, Fayoum, the Delta, and Alexandria are reunited to take visitors on an extraordinary journey through seven millennia of Egyptian civilization. The galleries are organized both chronologically and thematically around three pillars: society, kingship, and beliefs.
GALLERIES 1–3: PREHISTORIC TO FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
These opening galleries chronicle the ancient Egyptian's discovery of life along the Nile's banks and the founding of one of humanity's oldest civilizations. The collection includes statues of ancient Egypt's officials and scribes, crafted in both wood and marble. Most notable is the statue of the scribe Metry, carved from red wood with remarkably lifelike eyes. Found at Saqqara in 1925, this Fifth Dynasty masterpiece draws countless admiring glances.
The galleries present Egypt's two oldest statues of a ruler or important figure, slender golden figures of remarkable craftsmanship. Visitors can examine hunting tools used by ancient Egyptians, primarily fashioned from flint stone, alongside detailed displays of food preparation, clothing, and daily life. A particularly fascinating section traces the evolution of Egyptian tombs, from simple mastabas to the revolutionary Step Pyramid at Saqqara, culminating in the three great pyramids at Giza.
Among the gallery's treasures stands a striking black stone statue of King Khafre seated regally on his throne in full royal regalia, and a marble statue of King Menkaure. The queens' jewelry collections dazzle visitors, their golden storage boxes testament to ancient craftsmanship. The galleries conclude by documenting the Old Kingdom's gradual decline during the First Intermediate Period, setting the stage for the Middle Kingdom's subsequent revival of Egyptian power and civilization.
GALLERIES 4–6: MIDDLE KINGDOM AND SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
The Middle Kingdom is a somewhat unsung era of Egyptian history, when tough bureaucratic kings sought to recentralize the country after civil war with a string of great fortresses along the Nile. This period saw funerary practices become more democratic, extending beyond the pharaoh to the common people.
These galleries showcase Egypt’s remarkable bureaucracy, refined artistic expression, and extended diplomatic ties.
Colossal statues of Middle Kingdom pharaohs dominate these galleries, particularly the impressive collection of Senusret I pieces displayed through the museum, showing the king in various poses that emphasize his divine status and role as Egypt’s protector. Bureaucratic records and administrative artifacts demonstrate Egypt’s sophisticated governance system, with detailed documentation of taxation, resource management, and military campaigns.
Jewelry and personal items from Egyptian princesses show the technical brilliance of Middle Kingdom craftsmen, with delicate goldwork and semi-precious stone inlays creating dazzling pectorals and diadems.
Sphinx during that time were characteristically serious, with frowning expressions that represent the more psychologically complex portraiture of this era.
Funerary items show how beliefs about the afterlife became more inclusive, with the Coffin Texts allowing non-royal Egyptians to navigate the underworld and secure their own eternal existence.
** In our next issue, we’ll continue our tour inside the GEM.
How the GEM is reshaping West Cairo’s real estate investment map: The inauguration of the GEM has been whetting the appetite of real estate developers, with developers increasingly looking to secure licenses for the surrounding areas in recent months, a government source told EnterpriseAM. Those interested in setting up new developments and hotels are looking primarily at land plots adjacent to the museum, or in areas overlooking the pyramids, as well as in October Gardens and Sheikh Zayed City, according to our source.
The government is currently working on re-planning the area, which includes — among other things — repricing land designated for investors, with land allocation priority going towards tourism investments over conventional urban development. The strategy also entails tapping qualified and experienced companies to establish large-scale projects in the vicinity, our source tells us.
A proposed administrative zone is also under review, earmarked for service and administrative projects targeting international companies looking to establish headquarters in the area.
High-end hospitality takes center stage: There are already clear signs of the investments pouring into the hospitality sector, including Talaat Moustafa Group’s (TMG) Icon, which announced earlier this month its plans to set up a new USD 788 mn luxury tourism project behind the GEM. The project, due to open its doors within three years, will include a 495-key Four Seasons-branded hotel, along with serviced residences and a commercial area. The GEM’s opening was the primary driver behind this extensive regional development, Icon said, with the company expecting the area to become a global cultural and tourist destination in the next few years.
At the same time, Arabia Developments is racing to finish building the EGP 16 bn, 500-key Fairmont at its Sun Capital project in October Gardens, company sources told EnterpriseAM. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in 2028 and will be part of the wider EGP 30 bn Sun Capital project, which overlooks the pyramids. The project also includes another building with Fairmont-branded and managed hotel apartments — a first for the hotel brand in Egypt.
Market dynamics are shifting…: The GEM’s opening is a game changer for Egypt in several respects, including boosting our standing as an international cultural and tourist destination, and encouraging more investments in real estate, hospitality, and tourism across the capital and in West Cairo in particular, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries’ Real Estate Division Tarek Shoukry told EnterpriseAM. The expected influx of tourists is going to help drive significant added value for surrounding land plots and projects, with the area set to become a new residential, entrepreneurial, and investment hub, Shoukry said.
… and prices will follow: Real estate prices have already been impacted by the opening of the GEM, with the prices of ready units in the area rising as much as 50% due to the buzz surrounding the museum’s inauguration, Thiqa Real Estate Valuation Chairman Mohamed El Dahshoury told us. However, the spike in prices is likely temporary, with El Dahshoury expecting the appreciation in land and home prices to stabilize somewhere between 25-30% next year. Beta Egypt for Real Estate Investment Chairman Alaa Fikry, meanwhile, suggests that land prices — which were set some time ago — already factored in the presence of the GEM, and therefore should not rise again significantly. However, El Dahshoury notes that areas like Hadayek Al Ahram previously saw several price spikes around previous expectations of the GEM opening its doors.
All of this will get a helping hand as the government continues to focus on infrastructure spending — including new road networks linking West Cairo to the city center — which will make the area all the more appealing to real estate and tourism investors.
Hotel apartments are going to be the name of the game: With the area surrounding the GEM becoming a premier tourist attraction, new real estate developments need to dedicate substantial space to hotel apartments and serviced housing to account for the rising demand in the area, Fikry told us. Where possible, developers are likely to develop a full-fledged hotel to capitalize on tourist interest, Fikry said. El Dahshoury agreed, telling us that developers are moving towards bringing more hotel apartments online near the pyramids, particularly amid high occupancy rates and substantial demand. This trend is also pushing up real estate prices as several projects are being converted into highly valued hotel accommodation.
The rest of the city needs to be prioritized, too: Officials should think about how to maximize tourism income across the city, rather than focusing solely on West Cairo and the immediate area surrounding the GEM, El Dahshoury stressed. While many tourists flock to the pyramids and nearby attractions, those who choose to stay in areas further away from major attractions tend to spend more, he noted, suggesting that there’s a way to capitalize on this by marketing all hotels and serviced apartments across the city.
Sustainability has become the new risk management handbook, reshaping how banks assess risk, manage capital, and ultimately define long-term value. Institutional investors are demanding clear ESG standards, regulators are sharpening their disclosure teeth, and clients want their financing to power a future that’s resilient. For the Arab African International Bank (AAIB), this shift is central to powering Egypt’s private sector.
In November 2024, AAIB issued a USD 500 million sustainability bond. With heavy hitters like the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and British International Investment having underwritten the deal, it proves that serious capital is ready to mobilize for good even when markets are jittery.
To ensure proper governance and disclosure, AAIB launched a Sustainability Bond Framework that ticks all the international boxes like the Green Bond Principles (GBP), the Social Bond Principles (SBP), the Sustainability Bond Guidelines (SBG) published by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). The framework cements AAIB’s pledge to the UN-SDGs and Egypt’s climate targets.
Where are the proceeds going? Directly into high-impact areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and social boosters such as SMEs and women empowerment. These sectors deliver measurable benefits while actively creating jobs.
With the ESG integration now hardwired into AAIB's corporate and investment banking DNA, AAIB is rolling out numerous sustainability-themed products and added sustainable finance advisory to its advisory services. This positions the bank as the go-to partner for both corporates aiming to align financing with market dynamics and DFIs seeing AAIB as their regional impact investing gateway through blended finance schemes. This approach assists its clients to comply with the evolving ESG regulations and facilitates access to optimally priced financing. Awards like “Best Sustainable Bank in Egypt” only underscore their lead. AAIB’s pragmatic goal is to significantly grow the pool of sustainable assets regionally, making sure capital flows where it boosts both the economy and the planet.
If you’re planning to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, your journey might begin by booking a flight to Sphinx International Airport, which has been specifically designed to serve the Giza area, home to many ancient monuments as well as the GEM.
Located at km 45 on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, the airport mainly serves small and medium-sized aircraft (Code D) carrying an average of 150 passengers.
The story of the airport began in the same year that Egypt decided to accelerate the construction of the GEM. Both projects began around the same time, with the airport launching trial operations in 2018 and welcoming its first regular flights in 2019.
The airport’s prime location has made it a convenient option for travelers in recent months — even before the museum’s official opening — according to industry sources who highlighted its importance as a key travel hub.
Passenger traffic has been rising steadily, particularly as development work continues to expand the airport’s capacity ahead of the museum’s opening, our sources said. On the eve of the grand opening, Sphinx International Airport emerged as a preferred gateway for travelers, recording a notable milestone: passenger numbers exceeding 1 mn since the start of the year through last Friday—up 21% Y-o-Y.
Currently, 22 airlines operate through Sphinx Airport, supported by seven agencies, with an average of 95 weekly flights during the 2024/2025 winter season, compared to 75 flights last winter—a 27% increase. The airport now serves 25 international and domestic destinations, solidifying its position as a growing travel and tourism hub west of Cairo.
Airlines Operating at Sphinx International Airport:
Air Cairo: Operates flights to Queen Alia International Airport (Jordan), Aswan, King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia), Luxor, and Sharm El Sheikh.
Condor Airlines: Flies to Frankfurt, Germany.
EasyJet: Offers flights to London Luton Airport, UK.
Flynas: Operates flights to King Abdulaziz and King Khalid International Airports in Saudi Arabia.
FlyDubai: Offers flights to Dubai International Airport.
Jazeera Airways: Flies to Kuwait International Airport.
Nile Air: Operates seasonal flights to Milan Malpensa Airport.
Wizz Air: Offers flights from Abu Dhabi, Budapest, London Luton, Milan Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino airports.
MODERN FACILITIES
Sphinx Airport passenger terminal includes 26 passenger service counters, two self-service kiosks, three baggage carousels, ten passport control counters, seven departure gates, and six arrival gates, in addition to a VIP Lounge and multiple commercial and service areas. The terminal accommodates over 300 passengers per hour. It also houses customs and immigration zones, restaurants, lounges, a VIP hall, and a duty-free area.
The airport is equipped with the latest security and automatic landing systems, as well as a modern air traffic control tower equipped with cutting-edge air navigation technology. The airport is fully accessible, featuring comprehensive facilities for people with disabilities. It has two runways connected by taxiways and a 44-meter air traffic control tower.
Sphinx International Airport also meets all international safety standards, featuring state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, X-ray screening systems, manual inspection procedures, automatic fire alarm systems, and access control systems.
The airport features nine aircraft parking stands, aparking lot for 400 cars and 20 buses, and a mosque along with a power station, a central cooling plant, and a food court.
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport currently handles 1.2 mn passengers per year, up from 900k before the latest upgrades. The number of scheduled flights to increase as expansions continue and tourism activity grows following the museum’s opening, sources expect..Future development plans include additional runways and terminal expansions that will raise the airport’s capacity to 5 mn passengers annually within the next five years.
If you have already visited the Grand Egyptian Museum, you may have noticed the abundance of natural lighting and fresh air that circulates throughout the vast space that houses some 56k artifacts. This didn’t happen by chance — the GEM was designed and constructed based on green building practices that allow air and light to pass through naturally giving visitors an open space experience and powering the museum with environmentally friendly sources of energy, according to Major General Atef Moftah, construction supervisor for the Grand Egyptian Museum and Giza Plateau.
The museum has earned the prestigious EDGE certification — one of the most important international certifications for resource efficiency, certified by the International Finance Corporation (IFC)— making the GEM the first green museum in Africa and the Middle East. Moftah explains that the GEM uses 40% less electricity than a similar building of its size. A dedicated solar power station supplies the GEM with one gigawatt of clean energy, with plans to scale up generation capacity to 10 gigawatts as operations expand and consumption increases.
A massive rainwater collection tank holds around 300 cubic meters — the equivalent of 300k liters — of water. The rainwater is filtered and pumped directly into the museum’s water networks, cutting down on treatment costs. The museum saves 46% of its water consumption, according to Moftah, while also reducing pollution by 64%.
The GEM has earned more than eight ISO certificates spanning energy, occupational health and safety, environmental, and quality standards, including a green building certification. It was also awarded two additional ISO accreditations — one for environmental management systems and another for quality management systems.
The museum is built for a minimal carbon footprint. The GEM is on track to become the first museum in the world to obtain a zero carbon certification, says Moftah. The government plans to issue carbon certificates for the museum, a move that would allow the sale of carbon credits. Government sources confirm that preparations are underway to launch these bonds soon in coordination with the Environment Ministry and the Egyptian Stock Exchange.
Partnerships with multinationals like Schneider Electric allowed for a major leap in technology solutions, which now see the current energy setup cut costs while improving visitor comfort. The Tourism Ministry also collaborated with Sharp Elaraby for eco-friendly technology, installing the Plasmacluster air purification system inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu and inside the museum. This helps reduce humidity levels and protect internal walls from corrosion, according to a source from Elaraby Group, who also states that it helps extend visit times to archaeological sites as well as encourage repeat visits.
The GEM was awarded the Green Building Award during the COP27. It also received official accreditation for a comprehensive greenhouse gas report, approved by the General Organization For Export and Import Control, in cooperation with the Egyptian National Accreditation Council (EGAC).
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