In preparation for the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced its temporary closure from 15 October until the opening scheduled for 1 November.
Government bodies have been carrying out extensive developments in the area of the museum, extending some 10 km from the Sphinx International Airport 20 minutes west of the GEM to the Middle Ring Road to the east. These entities include the Cairo Governorate, representing the Ministry of Local Development, the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, and the ministries of Housing and Transport.
Over the past two years, 14 traffic axes in the vicinity of the GEM have been developed to maintain smooth traffic flows. According to Giza Governor Adel Al-Naggar, the GEM, covering several feddans, is located where major traffic arteries in the Giza Governorate intersect, such as Hadayek October and New October City.
Because one of the museum’s façades overlooks the Giza Plateau, already a world-renowned attraction, it was essential to connect the two sites and provide all the necessary services to expand and upgrade the entire area, Al-Naggar said. The goal is to ensure visitors enjoy an unforgettable experience, whether on their way to the museum, after their visit, or as they head to their hotels, restaurants, or other archaeological landmarks across Cairo, he said.
According to the Giza Governorate, the development projects included upgrading the Mansoureya Road, the Saqqara Tourist Road, and the Tagnid Road adjacent to the GEM. The work has comprised paving, lighting, and developing new green spaces. The museum has also been linked to the main road network, including the Ring Road and the Fayoum and Cairo-Alexandria Desert roads, alongside improvements to the Marioutiya and Moneeb axes.
The development of Remaya Square has been completed, turning it into a cultural gateway to the area, while a new tourist promenade has been built to provide direct access between the GEM and the Giza Pyramids.
The Nazlet Al-Semman area has also received a facelift. “The project was meant to revive, not remove, the area,” according to previous statements by a senior official in the Giza Governorate.
He said that “the plan for Nazlet Al-Semman was revised to focus on revitalising the district instead of demolishing it, in cooperation with local residents and in recognition of their tourism-related livelihoods. The aim is to preserve the authentic character of the neighbourhood while presenting it in a more organised form, including the establishment of hotels and service facilities as part of a broader plan to transform it into a distinctive tourist destination.”
The project to develop the area west of Sphinx International Airport aims to strike a balance between the requirements of tourism development and the preservation of the archaeological and heritage character of the area. This includes the establishment of a tourist and sports promenade, a cycling path, and a social club west of the airport as part of plans to develop Western Greater Cairo.
All the roads leading to the GEM, the Giza Pyramids, and the Sphinx International Airport have been developed to create a modern urban appearance and ensure smoother traffic flows.
The goal is to attract more tourists to the area while introducing new forms of accommodation through the construction of hotels along the route from the airport to the museum and the Pyramids area. Most of these projects have been completed through work done jointly by the ministries of Transport, Housing, and Antiquities, along with the Giza Governorate, the Cabinet stated.
Abdel-Khaleq Ibrahim, assistant minister of housing for technical affairs, explained that the strategy guiding the development projects around the GEM is based on the principle that a distinctive and personalised visitor experience is the key to attracting international tourism.
Accordingly, the goal is to achieve an integrated urban design that meets visitor aspirations and expectations, creating a memorable and unique experience that encourages them to return.
This meant a broader plan for the comprehensive development of Greater Cairo to ensure harmony among its various components, since tourists generally do not remain confined to their hotel rooms but rather explore the streets in search of new cultural, intellectual, and civilisational experiences, Ibrahim added.
For example, the new tourist promenade linking the GEM and the Pyramids Plateau embodies the connection between Egypt’s ancient civilisation and its modern museum. It is not merely a pedestrian route but also a cultural space where visitors can immerse themselves in heritage and capture unique photographs. The vision, therefore, is for every district across Greater Cairo to reflect this spirit of integration and distinctiveness, he noted.
None of the bodies and ministries that worked on developing the area around the GEM have released any figures regarding the total cost of the projects involved.
However, regarding the beautification of the area around the GEM, the Giza governor earlier stated that more than 4,000 trees have been planted, six wells dug to irrigate them, and 750 sculptures installed along the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, representing historical, artistic, and political figures and reflecting Egypt’s long heritage.
The Ring Road has also been redesigned with harmonised colour schemes and decorated with banners featuring symbols of Ancient Egyptian civilisation.
The façades of around 3,000 buildings have been repainted in the area overlooking the Ring Road, particularly in the Southern Giza, Omraneya, and Talbeya districts, to create a unified visual identity for the area around the GEM and to “achieve a unique aesthetic character,” the Giza governor added.
This project also included painting the façades of 482 schools in Giza.
The work has included new lighting and decorative banners displaying images of ancient kings and archaeological landmarks near the GEM.
Samir Gharib, head of the National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH), said that the idea of a common visual identity was introduced with the establishment of the organisation in 2008 and the issuance of the Unified Building Law that sets out planning regulations.
Among the NOUH’s key functions is defining and codifying legal concepts, including that of visual identity, which Gharib described as the “character” of an area and the expression of its unique components.
“Every district has its own architectural character that reflects its particular nature,” Gharib said. “For instance, an informal area has a visual identity that is itself informal, while more developed areas display architectural patterns and imagery that reflect the social level of their residents.”
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