Grand Egyptian Museum Records Over 5.2 Million Visitors in First Year

The Grand Egyptian Museum recorded between 5.2 million and 5.3 million visitors during its first year since opening, according to Chief Executive Dr Ahmed Ghoneim, with the final figure expected to be confirmed during the museum’s first-anniversary celebrations.

Ghoneim said the museum also received around 60 visiting heads of state, kings, prime ministers and rulers over the year, alongside a programme of cultural and artistic activities.

Managing high visitor volumes has been one of the museum’s main operational challenges. Measures introduced during the year included scheduled entry and limits on crowding, while the museum also worked to address fake websites that caused confusion around ticket bookings. Mobile network operators helped direct users towards the correct booking link through their applications.

The museum has also expanded its programming, including an ‘Immersive Experience’ sound-and-light installation running for six months, twice-weekly Family Day activities and the ‘GEM Talks’ series featuring specialists. It is additionally increasing training programmes for professionals from Arab and African countries and signing memoranda of understanding with research institutions and museums abroad.