Inside the Grand Egyptian Museum's Gift Shop

How does one capture the essence of the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation? A museum souvenir becomes more than a keepsake; it’s a miniature ambassador, carried across continents, a tangible story of Egyptian craftsmanship and culture. That fridge magnet, keychain, or tiny artefact is now inseparable from the narrative of the Grand Egyptian Museum, realised in its gift shop.

“The crux of the store, and the story behind the Grand Egyptian Museum itself, has always been to deliver the best of Egypt.” That vision comes alive at the GEM gift shop, where the footsteps of our ancestors meet the ingenuity of contemporary Egyptian creatives.

Far from the standard tourist souvenir shop, every shelf is a curated journey through Egypt’s diverse craftsmanship. From the sunbaked landscapes of Fayoum to the timeless villages of Upper Egypt and the fertile Delta, each cluster celebrates a unique craft tradition. Here, cultural merchandise is a story, a piece of heritage, and a testament to the skill and imagination of Egypt’s artisans. Handcrafted labubus sit alongside custom backgammon sets, intricate miniature King Tut masks, and countless other treasures, each infused with the touch of its maker and the soul of its region.

In this CairoScene exclusive, we step inside the store with Indjy Taher, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Museum, and JaeYung Kwon, Co-Founder & Finance Director of Museum, who guide us through a space that feels less like a gift shop and more like a living archive, one where history, design, and culture meet in every corner.