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A New Era Begins: Highlights from the Grand Egyptian Museum Opening

Giza-Egypt
Asterisco

Tour Guide, Cairo, Egypt

| 3 mins read

the GEM Opening Celebration

  1. Musical & Performance Extravaganza

    • The ceremony featured a powerful artistic program led by Maestro Nayer Naguib with a 120-musician orchestra. 

    • There was a performance called “The World Plays One Melody”, symbolizing unity and cultural harmony. 

    • Another piece titled “A Journey of Peace in the Land of Peace” traced Egypt’s architectural history from the Step Pyramid of Djoser to modern times. State Information Service

    • The celebration included spiritual and religious expressions: a Coptic hymn and Sufi chanting.

  2. Star Power & Iconic Figures

    • Legendary Egyptian performer Sherihan made a grand comeback, performing in a segment that evoked pharaonic art. 

    • A young performer, Asser Ahmed Hamdi (12 years old), gave a moving performance that symbolized a new generation embracing Egypt’s ancient heritage. 

    • Nubian singer Ahmed Ismail performed in Nubian language, highlighting Egypt’s cultural diversity.

    • Haneen Al-Shater, singing from a floating stage over the Nile, added a poetic and symbolic dimension. 

    • Actress Sherine Ahmed, known for Broadway roles, also participated with a powerful musical piece.

  3. Visual & Technological Spectacle

    • A massive laser projection show lit up the museum façade and the Pyramids, creating an immersive visual experience. 

    • A 5,000-drone light show flew over Giza, forming hieroglyphs, Pharaonic figures, and the golden mask of Tutankhamun in the sky. 

    • Fireworks exploded over the museum and plateau, adding drama and grandeur. State Information Service

    • The drones also spelled out the message: “Civilizations Flourish in Times of Peace.” 

  4. Global Participation & Symbolism

    • More than 79 official delegations attended, including 39 heads of state or royalty. 

    • The event included remote contributions: musical performances were broadcast from Rio de Janeiro, Paris, New York, underlining the global resonance of the ceremony. 

    • The museum’s screen broadcast featured scenes from celebrations in different countries – a symbol of shared cultural heritage. 

  5. Symbolic Storytelling

    • A part of the performance narrated the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, recounting how a young boy discovered the stairway to the tomb, tying the museum’s collection to its mythic past. State Information Service

    • The show used the Orion Belt alignment theory, linking the design of GEM with the Pyramids and ancient Egyptian cosmology. 

    • The entire event emphasized peace, creativity, and civilization — portraying GEM as a bridge between ancient legacy and a hopeful future. 

  6. Social Media & Global Echo

    • The event went viral: TikTok was a major platform, and GEM’s official account posted videos that racked up millions of views. 

    • According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the opening generated hundreds of millions of views globally. 

    • Media coverage was massive — over 700 stories in more than 200 international outlets.

      sources: 
      State Information Service
      Ahram Online
      Egypt Independent