Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is drawing an average of 15,000 visitors per day following its public opening last month, operating at levels consistent with its designed maximum capacity, the Cabinet said.
In a statement addressing recent public commentary, the Cabinet affirmed that the museum is functioning normally, with orderly visitor flow, unchanged visiting hours, and no disruption to operations. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the steady turnout from both Egyptian and foreign visitors reflects strong interest in what it described as one of the world’s most significant cultural projects.
Responding to reports of rainwater appearing in the museum’s main hall, the Cabinet explained that the building incorporates engineered roof openings designed to allow natural light and ventilation. Limited rainwater ingress during seasonal rainfall was therefore anticipated and is consistent with the museum’s architectural concept, it said.
Since 1 December, entry to GEM has been regulated through an exclusive online ticketing system, with on-site ticket sales discontinued. Tickets are issued for specific time slots to manage crowd density, improve visitor comfort and safety, and protect the museum’s collections. The Cabinet said the system is operating efficiently and is under continuous monitoring, with no technical issues reported.
On ticket pricing, the statement reiterated that differential pricing for Egyptians and foreign visitors is a long-standing practice across Egypt’s museums, aimed at keeping access affordable for local visitors while maintaining international standards.
The Cabinet also addressed observations regarding some external flooring areas, noting that these were linked to temporary installations used during opening events and are being repaired in phases without affecting visitors.
Located on the Giza Plateau, next to the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum houses more than 57,000 artefacts, including the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun displayed together for the first time. Spanning 490,000 square metres, the museum is expected to attract around five million visitors annually, reinforcing Egypt’s ambitions to position GEM as a global centre for culture, heritage, and sustainable museum design.
