The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo has officially opened, marking the culmination of more than two decades of planning, international collaboration, and architectural ambition. Located on the Giza Plateau, in close visual and geographic relationship with the Pyramids, the museum is now the largest cultural institution in the world dedicated to a single civilisation.
The architectural origins of the museum date back to 2002, when the Egyptian authorities launched an international architectural competition held under the patronage of UNESCO and supervised by the International Union of Architects (UIA). The competition, one of the largest ever organised worldwide, attracted over 1,500 proposals from more than 80 countries, reflecting the global relevance of Egypt’s cultural heritage and the importance of international architectural dialogue.
The winning design, selected in 2003, was submitted by Heneghan Peng Architects (Ireland). The project is distinguished by its sensitive response to the archaeological landscape and its alignment with the Giza pyramids, combining contemporary architectural expression with respect for one of the world’s most significant heritage sites.
With a collection of over 100,000 artefacts, including the complete funerary assemblage of Tutankhamun displayed together for the first time, the Grand Egyptian Museum brings together exhibition spaces, conservation laboratories, research facilities and educational programmes within a single integrated complex.
The opening of the GEM stands as a reminder of the role of international architectural competitions, promoted by the UIA, in fostering excellence, transparency and cultural exchange, and in shaping landmark public architecture that serves both present and future generations.