Egypt's ambassador in Hamburg Dalia Abdel-Fattah welcomes Professor Mohamed Khalifa
To mark the historic opening of one of the world’s most magnificent cultural and civilisational landmarks, Egypt’s Ambassador in Hamburg, Dalia Abdel-Fattah, hosted an official ceremony.
The event was held in collaboration with the University of Hamburg and its Institute of African and Asian Studies.
The celebration formed part of the Arab Cultural Weeks, a well-established tradition aimed at fostering dialogue between Arab and German cultures. The initiative has been led for nearly two decades by Mohamed Khalifa, Head of the Arab Cultural Forum in Hamburg and Professor of Middle East History at the Institute of African and Asian Studies, University of Hamburg.
The event, held at the headquarters of the Institute of African and Asian Studies and under the patronage of Ambassador Abdel-Fattah, saw a distinguished turnout.
Attendees included senior officials from the Hamburg government and northern German states, representatives of the Islamic community and the Coptic Church, prominent public figures, academics, and approximately 500 members of the Egyptian community in northern Germany.
Professor Mohamed Khalifa with maestro Hans Christian Euler.
The programme featured a live broadcast from Cairo of the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening ceremony, including the address delivered by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the accompanying artistic performances.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Abdel-Fattah expressed her profound pride in this monumental national achievement, emphasizing that “the Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a defining milestone in the preservation of human heritage.”
She highlighted that the museum embodies Egypt’s modern vision to safeguard and present its ancient civilization to the world in a manner befitting its grandeur and timeless legacy.
Ambassador Abdel-Fattah also noted the participation of the German President in the Cairo opening ceremony, underscoring the deeply rooted Egyptian-German cooperation in the fields of archaeological discoveries and the preservation of shared cultural heritage.
Ambassador Dalia Abdel-Fattah honors Hany El-Na ... tian-German Association in Northern Germany
The ceremony featured a special address by Professor Andreas Schwab, Professor of Classical History at the University of Kiel.
He spoke about the exceptional value of the museum, noting its importance not only for its vast scale and comprehensive collections but also for its innovative display techniques and state-of-the-art museological technologies.
In a gesture of recognition and appreciation, Ambassador Abdel-Fattah honoured Dr Eng. Hany El-Naqrashi, President of the Egyptian-German Association in Northern Germany, for his tireless efforts spanning over half a century in promoting and celebrating Egyptian cultural heritage across Germany.
Maestro Hans Christian Euler is conducting the Hanover Chamber Orchestra in the ceremony.
The evening concluded with an exquisite musical performance by the Hanover Chamber Orchestra, featuring over twenty musicians under the baton of maestro Hans Christian Euler. The orchestra performed a superior selection of Egyptian and international compositions, culminating with “Triumphal March” from Verdi’s Aida, which filled the hall with an atmosphere of artistic splendour and cultural harmony, a fitting tribute to Egypt’s timeless contribution to world civilization.
Through its elegant organization and remarkable attendance, the Egyptian embassy in Hamburg, in collaboration with the University of Hamburg, succeeded in presenting a dignified image of Egypt and its enduring civilization to the German audience, reaffirming that culture and art remain the most profound means of human connection and bridge-building between nations.
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