Speaking by phone to Al-Hayah TV, Ghoneim said the hall functions architecturally like an open outdoor courtyard. “There is an overhead structure that allows ventilation and natural light, and the design was made for this purpose,” he explained.
He added that the museum’s designers had planned for the possibility of rain entering through the roof openings.
He said the Great Hall contains only the statue of King Ramses II, made of red granite and exposed to the open air for thousands of years, along with two other statues that are not located directly beneath the open roof sections.
Ghoneim stated that staff handled the situation by directing water to drainage outlets, stressing that this is the only approach compatible with the building's architectural concept.
Cairo experiences rainfall on only 14 to 16 days a year, he noted. “There is no design flaw. This is a natural result of the design and will occur whenever it rains in the coming years,” he added.
He advised visitors to avoid open areas of the museum during rainfall and confirmed that visitor numbers remain within expected levels and the museum’s capacity.
Ghoneim said the museum has been receiving visitors regularly since opening on 4 November, with total attendance exceeding 500,000.
He added that the annual plan targets between five and seven million visitors, with Egyptians accounting for about 55 percent of visitors so far and foreigners 45 percent.
The museum currently welcomes an average of around 15,000 visitors per day, in line with its maximum capacity, he said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement that the Great Hall was designed with geometrically arranged roof openings to provide natural light and ventilation.
The ministry said the limited entry of rainwater during rainfall is consistent with the design and expected at this time of year. It confirmed that the museum has been operating normally since opening on 4 November, with smooth visitor movement and unchanged operating hours.
An online-only ticketing system introduced on 1 December helps manage crowds, improve visitor comfort, and protect the collections. Bookings are functioning smoothly and are continuously monitored.
The ministry also noted that differentiated ticket pricing for Egyptians and foreign visitors remains a long-standing policy to keep access affordable for citizens. Minor issues with external flooring, linked to opening-ceremony installations, are being repaired on schedule without affecting visitors.
It reiterated that the Great Hall’s roof design allows natural light and ventilation, limits rainwater entry, and makes it expected and non-hazardous, while reaffirming its commitment to preserving the museum and ensuring a high-quality visitor experience.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The correct name is Ahmed Ghoneim.
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