After five years of closure due to lax security in the aftermath of the January 2011 Revolution, King Farouk Corner in Helwan is scheduled to open within weeks, antiquities minister Khaled El-Enany announced on Saturday.  

El-Enany said "there is nothing standing in the way of the inauguration of King Farouk Corner."

"Labels would be put on every artefact and piece of furniture while the gardens around would be developed to be used as an area for seminars and cultural events with a cafeteria," he added.

Farouk Corner would be added to the “Hapi Nile Tour,” a trip launched by the ministry two years ago connecting four archaeological sites located on the Nile: The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, the Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial and Al-Manesterly Palace in Al-Roda Island.

The Corner was originally opened by King Farouk, Egypt's last monarch, in 1942 to be a family rest house on the Nile in Helwan, south of Cairo. It is a boat shaped edifice with three floors and a basement containing the kitchen and servants quarters.

The house itself is decorated on the inside with pharaonic decorative elements and furniture. A replica of Luxor and Karnak temples are also found on the house’s balcony while three replica mummification beds are in the hall.

El-Enany inspecting Farouk corner, helwan

El-Enany inspecting Farouk corner, helwan