tag

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on Thursday inaugurated Lawh Wa Qalam: MF Husain Museum at Qatar Foundation’s Education City, unveiling a landmark cultural space dedicated to the legendary modernist Maqbool Fida Husain.Conceived in close collaboration with the late artist and built on a promise made to him, the museum marks a historic addition to Qatar’s growing constellation of world-class museums.Among the invitees witnessing the inauguration was award-winning author, multimedia journalist, and cultural curator Sahar Zaman, who conducted one of the most widely watched interviews with Husain before his passing.With 25 years of experience and a celebrated career that includes founding Asia’s first arts web channel, Hunar TV, and authoring the acclaimed 2024 biography “Talat Mahmood: The Definitive Biography”, Sahar’s presence added a deeply personal dimension to the museum’s debut.Speaking with Gulf Times about her memories of the legendary artist, Sahar recalled her interviews with Husain during the last decade of his life—a period marked by creative urgency, global travel, and self-imposed exile.“I say with great pride and equal humility that MF Husain became a friend in the last and final decade of his life,” she said. “In his 90s, he was racing against time to finish his large-scale projects—Indian cinema, Arab civilization, and his final work Seero fi al Ardh.”She remembered interviewing him in Dubai, often accompanied by spontaneous moments that revealed his childlike energy. “I once sat with him in his red Ferrari for a short drive,” she said. “He told me the car would be part of an upcoming artwork. I laughed it off then—but a week later he flew to Italy to work on the Morano horses. His life moved at the pace of his Ferrari.”Reflecting on his creative vision, Sahar described Husain as “fearless”—an artist unmoved by judgment or controversy. “His strong brushstrokes and straight lines were a depiction of that fearlessness,” she said. “At 90-plus, he relocated to Doha to start afresh, create new work, and build a museum. His zest for life was unmatched.”Though his art stirred political controversies in India, Sahar believes time has reaffirmed his stature. “When the noise of those debates settles, it’s the genius of his work that shines. Collectors still vie for his art—just this year his Gram Yatra sold for a record $13.8 million. His significance remains unquestionable.”A promise fulfilled in DohaSahar described Lawh Wa Qalam as “a triumph of human spirit, unprecedented posthumous glory, and the honour of a promise made to him by Sheikha Moza.” She praised the museum not only as an artistic milestone but as a profound example of cultural stewardship.“It’s an exemplary display of a promise made and a promise kept,” she said. “Fourteen years have passed since Husain’s death, yet the commitment to build his museum was never forgotten. Sheikha Moza will be remembered in golden letters for preserving, showcasing, and reintroducing Husain to generations who might never have known him.”She added that the museum, positioned in Doha at the crossroads of East and West, will help bridge cultural narratives. “Lawh Wa Qalam will sit at the heart of the international art circuit,” she said. “It will not just preserve Husain’s story but create new dialogues between cultures.”A legacy for future generationsFor Sahar, the museum offers a powerful takeaway for visitors. “They will see that art takes time, struggle, and patience,” she said. “But when made with sincerity and purity, it becomes immortal and timeless.”She believes contemporary artists continue to draw lessons from Husain’s mastery. “His strokes—whether large canvases or tiny sketches—show extraordinary control and ease. And beyond technique, he was a once-in-a-generation mix of talent, showmanship, strategy, and marketing. He knew what to paint and how to sell.”As Qatar opens the doors to Lawh Wa Qalam, Sahar sees the museum not only as a tribute to a global icon but as a celebration of artistic resilience and cross-cultural understanding. “It brings together two worlds—India and Qatar—through the vision of a man who created his own language of modern Indian art,” she said.

Qatar Foundation (QF) will unveil Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum to the public on Friday, a new addition to the arts and cultural landscape of Qatar, celebrating the life and work of the iconic modern artist Maqbool Fida Husain.The museum is described as a dynamic space where art meets learning, located in Education City. Jowaher al-Marri, manager of Communications Outreach at QF, said: “Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum embodies what Education City stands for – a place where curiosity is encouraged, connections are made, and learning continues throughout life. By bringing Husain’s work into our community, we are creating a space that is open, accessible, and collaborative – where art becomes a catalyst for dialogue and discovery.“The museum reinforces Qatar’s role as a regional and global hub for culture and creativity, inviting people to explore ideas that inspire, challenge, and unite – and we look forward to opening its doors to the world and to audiences from all walks of life.”Syeda Deeba a fourth-year Interior Design student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar said: “The opening of Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum feels incredibly inspiring. The museum enriches Qatar’s cultural landscape by celebrating one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and for young designers and artists, it offers a space to study the relationship between art, space, and culture.”Reflecting the openness and inclusivity of Education City, the museum complements existing cultural offerings across Qatar Foundation’s ecosystem, as well as its schools, universities, research centres, and community initiatives. This creates a natural environment for cross-collaborative learning, where people can connect, interact, and collaborate in enriching, unexpected ways.“Education City thrives on collaboration across fields design, engineering, science, medicine, and the arts. A museum dedicated to a major global artist adds a cultural anchor that everyone can access,” Deeba says.“The museum becomes a shared space where students from all disciplines can learn, reflect, and find inspiration. Whether someone is studying architecture, AI, business, or design, Husain’s work opens conversations about history, innovation, identity, and storytelling. It will encourage more cross-campus interactions, workshops, joint projects, and cultural exploration.”Housed in a building inspired by Husain’s own sketch – and brought to life by architect Martand Khosla – the museum offers a unique insight into the artist’s creative vision and multidisciplinary approach. Visitors can explore one of the most comprehensive collections of Husain’s later works, many of which draw on themes from Arab civilisation and Islamic culture, as well as his final masterpiece, Seeroo fi al ardh, which now forms part of Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum.Alongside paintings, films, tapestries, and photography, the museum will host workshops, conversations, artistic programmes, and interdisciplinary encounters. In doing so, it reinforces Education City’s mission to create opportunities that are accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for everyone, enriching the landscape as an active, living space. 

M7 hosted the Franca Fund Gala on Nov 23 at the Museum of Islamic Art, honouring the life and legacy of the late Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, by raising funds to drive research in preventative genomics.The event, in partnership with The Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics, took place as Qatar marks its cultural journey over the past 50 years with Evolution Nation, a celebration highlighting both the nation’s cultural milestones and its aspirations for the future.The gala was co-hosted by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar Museums Chairperson and Fashion Trust Arabia Co-Chair; Francesco Carrozzini, Co-Founder, Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics and Sozzani’s son; and global editorial director at Vogue and chief content officer for Condé Nast and longtime friend of Sozzani, Anna Wintour. Among the VIPS in attendance includes Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.“This evening, we have come together to honour the vision of Franca Sozzani, who used fashion to disrupt, to talk about difficult topics, and to give the voiceless a voice. In the presence of her family, we celebrate her courage and resilience, as we join to advance the work of The Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics,”“Tonight’s gala underscores our commitment to reimagine healthcare through cutting-edge science, combined with the highest ethical standards, global advocacy, and compassionate care. These vital goals are the core of Franca Fund as well as our other beneficiaries this evening: the Qatar Cancer Society and the Xana Foundation in Barcelona,” said HE Sheikha Al Mayassa.The event raised more than $4mn, which will directly support the work of The Franca Fund and its visionary goal: to support ongoing research programs in preventive genomics at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, led by internationally acclaimed physician-scientist and Harvard Professor of Medicine (Genetics) Dr Robert Green. He is considered a pioneer in the responsible use of DNA analysis to detect and provide early treatment or prevention of inherited conditions that affect millions of children and adults worldwide.In a statement, Carrozzini said: “My mother believed that ideas should never sit still. She once told me, ‘If it’s not daring, it’s not new. And if it’s not new, it won’t matter.’ That was Franca – fearless, restless, always pushing everyone, including herself, to see what others haven’t yet seen”.Advancing equity in access to medical care, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa announced a donation to the Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), founded and chaired since 1997 by Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani. Serving as a voice of awareness and a platform of support for all those facing the journey of cancer treatment, QCS offers every patient a renewed sense of hope, providing financial assistance to more than 10,770 cancer patients.HE Sheikha Al Mayassa also announced a contribution to the Xana Foundation in support of the launch La Casa De Las Xanas. The Xana Foundation was born to offer warm support and steadfast companionship to families whose children face serious illnesses. 

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the National Museum of Korea (NMK) are presenting the ‘Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendour’, which opened Saturday in Seoul, South Korea. The landmark collaboration marks the first comprehensive presentation of MIA’s world-renowned collection in South Korea, taking audiences on an extraordinary journey into the history of Islamic art and culture as it evolved in regions stretching from Spain to China.A press preview was recently held with the attendance of dignitaries and the directors and representatives of the MIA and NMK, including Qatar’s ambassador to Korea Khalid Ebrahim al-Hamar, MIA director Shaika Nasser al-Nassr, NMK director You Hong June, and Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, deputy director of Curatorial Affairs at the MIA.On view through October 11, 2026, in the NMK’s World Art Gallery, the exhibition brings together more than 80 masterpieces spanning 1,400 years, including exquisite Quranic manuscripts, ceramics, glassware, textiles, scientific instruments, and objects from royal courts.It celebrates exceptional craftsmanship and creativity and the evolution of Islamic art across continents through trade, scholarship, and artistic innovation. “We extend our sincere gratitude to the National Museum of Korea for the partnership and warm collaboration that have brought this exhibition to life. Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendour reflects our commitment to nurturing cultural dialogue and mutual appreciation through the universal language of art.**media[384926]**“As we mark the 20th anniversary of Qatar Museums, this exhibition stands as a testament to our ongoing dedication to strengthening global exchange and understanding. Together, we celebrate the power of art to connect people and inspire understanding across borders,” said Shaika Nasser. The exhibition unfolds across three thematic sections that guide visitors through the spiritual, cultural, and artistic expressions of the Islamic world.It explores ‘Islam and Religious Art of Islamic World’, ‘The Embrace and Expansion of Islamic Culture’, and ‘The Islamic Courtly Culture and Manuscripts’. At the conclusion of the exhibition, visitors can experience a digitally reconstructed version of an 1817 Damascene reception room, recreated by MIA. Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendour will underscore the significance of Islamic art beyond its traditional geographic and cultural spheres, highlighting the shared values of craftsmanship, calligraphy, and heritage that resonate throughout the Islamic world and Korea.June said, “This exhibition is a meaningful opportunity to introduce Islamic art through our collaboration with the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha. I hope that visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the Islamic culture that flourished brilliantly across eras and regions, and that the exhibition will inspire reflection on the diversity of human cultures and the value of coexistence.” Curated by Abudaya and curator Kangmi Kwon, associate curator Hyeeun Kwon, and associate curator Youngwoo Kwon of NMK, the exhibition represents a rich collaboration between Qatar and Korea-based experts.**media[384927]**Abudaya delivered a lecture Saturday titled ‘A Journey of Splendour– Presenting Islamic Art from Doha to Seoul’ at the Education and Training Room of the NMK, and offered audiences a deeper understanding of the themes and highlights presented in Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendour. Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendour signals Qatar Museums’ ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and international collaboration through initiatives like Years of Culture, which connect Qatar with partner nations for ongoing exchange.It is also presented as part of Evolution Nation, an 18-month campaign honouring Qatar’s cultural journey over the past 50 years since the founding of the National Museum of Qatar, and 20 years since the founding of Qatar Museums.Curated by Qatar Creates, the national movement positioning Qatar as a global hub for art, culture, and creativity, Evolution Nation highlights both the nation’s cultural milestones and its aspirations for the future. For more information, visit https://mia.org.qa/en/calendar/islamic-art-a-journey-of-splendor/.

Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum, set to open on November 28, will be the newest addition to Education City’s vibrant arts scene. Dedicated to the life and work of the renowned Maqbool Fida Husain, the museum will bring the pioneering modern artist’s creativity to life through multimedia storytelling and diverse art forms including paintings, films, tapestry, and photography.**media[380673]**Seeroo Fi Al Ardh – Husain’s final masterpiece, opened at Education City in 2019 – will now form part of Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum. It highlights the progress of humanity, and its inclination to utilise the surrounding resources to achieve its goals.Alongside Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum, QF has over 100 artworks within its portfolio of public art, all open for everyone to experience and enjoy.Here are other inspiring artworks, installations, and places at Education City where you can explore art, culture, and creativity: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to modern and contemporary art of the Arab world. Currently celebrating its 15-year anniversary, exhibitions include we refuse_d, which sees artists explore tensions between resilience and action.**media[380670]**Al Azzm is a sculpture within Education City which symbolises the determination of Qatari women, while also embodying Qatari culture and traditions and the resilience of the nation.Come Together, a public art installation designed by South Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa, pays tribute to Qatar’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The structure, resembling a dandelion, is made up of workers’ helmets, mirror balls, and traditional Qatari kitchenware.The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar, a QF partner university, is the first museum in the Arab world dedicated to discussing and examining the content of media, journalism, and communication.Georgetown University in Qatar, a QF partner university, houses a panel of the Berlin Wall, which was brought to the country by Qatar Museums under the Qatar-Germany 2017 Year of Culture, as part of its Public Art Programme. The panel, reinforced with steel bars, is covered in spray painted graffiti that conveys messages of hope, freedom, and change.Damien Hirst’s The Miraculous Journey, which stands outside QF’s women’s and children’s hospital Sidra Medicine, is a series of 14 monumental bronze sculptures that chronicle the gestation of a foetus inside a uterus, from conception to birth.**media[380672]**Louise Bourgeois’ 1999 Maman, housed in Qatar National Convention Centre, is a bronze, stainless steel, and marble sculpture which depicts a spider, and – standing at over 30ft high and over 33ft wide - is among the largest sculptures in the world.

Six ancient statues have been stolen from the National Museum of Damascus, which is one of the Middle East's oldest cultural institutions and houses a collection showing Syria's archaeological and artistic heritage.A source at the museum told Reuters that a thief broke a glass display case on Monday and apparently stayed inside the building until evening.Authorities have launched an investigation, according to the head of internal security in Damascus, Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh.Khair Atkeh, quoted by state news agency SANA, said specialised teams were conducting tracking and search operations to arrest those responsible and recover the stolen artefacts.Security guards and officials were being questioned to determine the circumstances of the incident, he added.Established in 1919, the National Museum closed in 2012 because of fighting in the capital at the start of the country's civil war. It partially reopened in 2018, and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after rebels toppled former President Bashar al-Assad.

The opening of a contested museum in Nigeria, meant to display west African art, has been postponed after protesters disrupted a private visit Sunday, officials said.The Museum of West African Arts (Mowaa) had been due to officially open Tuesday, but this will now be postponed indefinitely, officials said.Mowaa was launched five years ago by Nigerian businessman Phillip Ihenacho in Benin City, Edo State, with the support of its former governor.It's due to house exhibition spaces and archives and aims to host residencies for west African artists and craftspeople, and Sunday was holding a pre-opening event for donors and industry professionals.But around 20 men, some armed with wooden bats, stormed into the museum courtyard, forcing guests to take refuge inside.The group, whose demands were not clear, caused minor damage in the museum courtyard, AFP reporters saw."Protesters entered and began vandalising part of the reception pavilion, where we receive visitors, then they stormed inside the front section, where the exhibition area is located," Ihenacho said.After around two hours, guests were escorted away in buses to a nearby hotel.The museum has sparked tensions between the former state governor and his successor, an ally of the city's traditional ruler, Oba Ewuare II, who says he should be in charge of the museum.Benin for years has been trying to recover artefacts seized during the colonial era, in particular the "Benin Bronzes" looted more than 120 years ago.Most of the ornate bronzes were seized by British soldiers in a retaliatory raid on Benin, and then auctioned off or sold to museums across Europe and the United States.Ihenacho said he believed the protesters were "representatives from the palace" of Oba Ewuare II. "We have never pretended to be anything other than the Museum of West African Art," Ihenacho added.

The President of the Transitional Presidential Council of the Republic of Haiti, Anthony Frank Laurent Saint-Cyr, and his accompanying delegation visited the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) on Monday.The visit came as part of his participation in the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to convene on Tuesday.During the tour, Saint-Cyr viewed the museum's most prized collections across its various galleries and received a comprehensive briefing on its precious treasures, which span multiple eras.He was accompanied by HE Director of the National Museum of Qatar Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Cultural Village Katara organised a special event Saturday, featuring a live broadcast of the grand opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, in cooperation with the Embassy of Egypt in Qatar. The event was attended by Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Walid Elfiky, Ambassador of Egypt to Qatar, alongside a large diplomatic and public audience, particularly members of the Egyptian community living in Qatar, who enthusiastically engaged with this historic occasion. **media[376315]** Katara’s organisation of this live broadcast reflects its cultural mission to open new windows of interaction with human achievements across diverse fields, and to highlight the shared values that unite peoples through culture, art, and knowledge. It also demonstrates Katara’s commitment to keeping pace with major global cultural events and shining a light on them. In his speech on this occasion, Ambassador Elfiky expressed his delight at Katara’s participation in this world-class event, which he described as a moment of pride for Egypt and for all humanity. He noted that the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) represents a civilisational bridge linking Egypt’s glorious past with its present and future, embodying Egypt’s vision of its historic role as a beacon of culture and knowledge throughout the ages. **media[376314]** He added that this monumental cultural project reflects the Egyptian leadership’s deep commitment to heritage and identity, affirming that culture and art are among the noblest bridges that bring nations closer and deepen human understanding. He also praised the strong cooperation between the Egyptian Embassy and Katara, expressing his gratitude to Katara’s General Manager and staff, saying: “Katara continues to enrich the cultural scene in Qatar and the Arab region through its outstanding initiatives and contributions, fostering intercultural exchange among nations.” The Grand Egyptian Museum is located near the Pyramids of Giza, covering an area of approximately 500,000 square meters, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The building itself spans about 167,000 square meters, housing permanent and temporary exhibition halls, restoration centers, and educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. **media[376316]** The museum contains over 100,000 artifacts from various periods of ancient Egyptian history — from pre-dynastic times, through the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, and up to the Greek and Roman eras. Among its most remarkable treasures is the complete collection of King Tutankhamun, comprising more than 5,000 artifacts displayed together for the first time since their discovery. The architectural design of the museum is itself a masterpiece, inspired by the grandeur of its location overlooking the Giza Pyramids. Its majestic façade is composed of large triangular stone forms that symbolize the temporal continuum of Egyptian civilization—from past to future. The exhibition halls are equipped with advanced technical systems, offering visitors an interactive and immersive experience that connects them deeply with Egypt’s rich and enduring history.

A woman arrested this week along with four other suspects over the unprecedented jewel heist at the Louvre was charged and remanded in custody on Saturday.The 38-year-old was in tears as she appeared at a Paris court, saying she feared for "her children" and for herself, according to AFP.She has been charged with complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime.The magistrate justified the detention of the woman who lives in the French capital's northern suburb of La Courneuve on the grounds of a "risk of collusion" and "disturbance of public order".In total, two of the five people arrested this week were charged on Saturday, while the other three have been released without charge, police sources and sources close to the case told AFP.Last month, thieves wielding power tools raided the Louvre, the world's most visited art museum, in broad daylight, taking just seven minutes to steal jewellery worth an estimated $102 million.French authorities initially announced the arrest of two male suspects over the Louvre robbery, and this week prosecutors said that police had arrested five more people.Adrien Sorrentino, a lawyer for the woman who was remanded in custody, said his client "vehemently" denied the charges against her."She is devastated," he told reporters."This is a spectacular heist, and the decision that has just been made is a spectacular one: a young woman has just been placed in detention despite being presumed innocent."One other person under investigation has also been placed in pre-trial detention, pending a hearing postponed until Tuesday, said one of the sources.Three of the five people arrested this week were released without charge.Sofia Bougrine, a lawyer for one of them, pointed to what she said was the indiscriminate nature of some of the arrests."In these serious crime cases, we find that waves of arrests look more like drift nets," Bougrine told AFP.The first two men arrested previously were charged with theft and criminal conspiracy after "partially admitting to the charges", Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said this week.They are suspected of being the two who broke into the gallery while two accomplices waited outside.Both lived in the northeastern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers.One is a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France, who was identified by DNA traces found on one of the scooters used to flee the heist. The second man is a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver.Both were known to the police for having committed thefts.The first was arrested as he was about to board a plane for Algeria at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.The second was apprehended shortly after near his home, and there was no evidence to suggest that he was planning to go abroad, prosecutors said.The stolen loot remains missing.The thieves dropped a diamond- and emerald-studded crown that once belonged to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, as they escaped.The burglars made off with eight other items of jewellery.Among them are an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem that once belonged to the Empress Eugenie, which is dotted with nearly 2,000 diamonds.

Egypt at last opened the $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday as performers dressed in white tunics embroidered with designs inspired by ancient frescoes, greeted guests. "Today, as we celebrate together the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, we are writing a new chapter in the history of the present and the future," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told a gathering of dignitaries, sitting in the museum's square. Cairo has pinned great hopes on the long-delayed museum, which is a key plank of plans to revive the tourism industry so vital to its troubled economy. It will be home to tens of thousands of objects dating back more than six millennia. The audience a the opening watched a spectacular display of light and music, with the pyramids towering in front of them. On giant screens above, scenes from celebrations in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro played out against the backdrop of Egypt's ancient monuments. Dozens of performers dressed in elaborate Pharaonic costumes, their foreheads crowned with golden wreaths and sceptres in hand, played traditional tunes as a laser show depicting pharaohs and fireworks lit up the night sky above the museum. "It is a living testimony to the genius of the Egyptian human, who built the pyramids and inscribed on the walls the story of immortality," Sisi said, referring to the new institution. On Saturday morning, roads around the museum were cordoned off and security tightened ahead of the opening, with giant banners draped from buildings and strung across streets -- advertising the launch. "This is the dream that all of us imagined. We all dreamed that this project would be realised," Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a press conference in Cairo on Saturday. Set on a gentle slope overlooking the Giza Plateau, just beyond the shadow of the pyramids, the museum was built with major financial and technical support from Japan, and spreads across nearly half a million square metres. Madbouly said that the "largest part of construction, finishing and bringing this global landmark to its current form occurred during the past seven to eight years". More than two decades in the making, the GEM faced multiple delays due to setbacks related to political unrest, regional conflicts and the Covid-19 pandemic. The museum houses more than 100,000 artefacts, half of which will be on display, making it the world's largest collection devoted to a single civilisation, according to Egyptian officials. Inside, visitors will enter vast, light-filled halls with soaring ceilings and sand-coloured stone walls that echo the surrounding desert. At the centre of the main atrium stands an 83-tonne statue of Ramses II, the pharaoh who ruled Egypt for 66 years and presided over its golden age. Unlike the cramped, century-old Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, the GEM features immersive galleries, precision lighting, virtual-reality exhibits and even a children's museum. One highlight is a live conservation lab, visible through floor-to-ceiling glass, where visitors can watch restorers assembling a 4,500-year-old solar boat buried near Khufu's pyramid, built to carry his soul across the sky with the sun god Ra. The undisputed star of the show, however, is King Tutankhamun's collection of more than 5,000 objects, many displayed together for the first time. The museum opens to the public on Tuesday, showcasing thousands of funerary artefacts previously scattered across Egypt. Egypt's tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency and jobs, has been repeatedly shaken over the past decade and a half, from the 2011 uprising to waves of unrest and sporadic terrorist attacks in the aftermath. In recent years, tourism has shown signs of recovery, with 15 million visitors travelling to Egypt in the first nine months of 2025 and generating $12.5 billion, up 21 percent from a year earlier. Egyptian tourism minister Sherif Fathy expected on Saturday total tourist arrivals to stand at 18 million by the end of this year. He told reporters the government expects the museum to draw five million visitors annually, adding that it currently welcomes 5,000 to 6,000 visitors each day. "We hope to increase that to 15,000 daily," said Fathy.

After years of delays, Cairo is finally set to open the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday -- a long-awaited, billion-dollar showcase of pharaonic grandeur that Egypt hopes will help revive tourism and boost its troubled economy. Seventy-nine delegations, including 39 heads of state and government, are expected at the ceremony, which begins at 7:30 pm local time (1730 GMT). Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain and Denmark will be among those sending representatives, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. In the nights leading up to the opening, shafts of light have illuminated both the pyramids and the museum's colossal facade -- a prelude to Saturday's spectacle. Set on a gentle slope overlooking the Giza Plateau, just beyond the shadow of the pyramids, the museum was built with major financial and technical support from Japan, and spreads across nearly half a million square metres. It houses more than 100,000 artefacts, half of which will be on display, making it the world's largest collection devoted to a single civilisation, according to Egyptian officials. Inside, visitors will enter vast, light-filled halls with soaring ceilings and sand-coloured stone walls that echo the surrounding desert. **media[375988]** At the centre of the main atrium stands an 83-tonne statue of Ramses II, the pharaoh who ruled Egypt for 66 years and presided over its golden age. Unlike the cramped, century-old Egyptian Museum in central Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) features immersive galleries, precision lighting, virtual-reality exhibits and even a children's museum. One highlight is a live conservation lab, visible through floor-to-ceiling glass, where visitors can watch restorers assembling a 4,500-year-old solar boat buried near Khufu's pyramid. The undisputed star of the show, however, is King Tutankhamun's collection of more than 5,000 objects, many displayed together for the first time. The museum opens to the public on Tuesday, showcasing thousands of funerary artefacts previously scattered across Egypt. Setbacks More than two decades in the making, the GEM faced multiple hurdles, including political unrest, regional conflicts and the Covid-19 pandemic. Observers caution that its long-term success depends on stable tourism and strong supporting infrastructure. Egyptian archeologist Hussein Bassir said the museum's future hinges on "regular maintenance to preserve the building and its treasures". "If the current momentum is not maintained, the museum could quickly lose its appeal and visitor numbers could drop," he told AFP. Egypt's tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency and jobs, has been repeatedly shaken over the past decade and a half, from the 2011 uprising to waves of unrest and sporadic terrorist attacks in the aftermath. **media[375986]** Elhamy al-Zayat, former head of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, told AFP the museum was part of a broader plan to transform the entire Giza Plateau. "Egypt has created an entirely new cultural and tourist zone" at the plateau, with a nearby airport and upgraded visitor facilities at the pyramids, he said. Roads leading to the plateau have been refurbished, digital ticketing introduced and air-conditioned electric buses now glide past the pyramids. In recent years, tourism has shown signs of recovery, with 15 million visitors travelling to Egypt in the first nine months of 2025 and generating $12.5 billion, up 21 percent from a year earlier. Officials believe the GEM alone could draw up to seven million visitors annually, potentially bringing total visitor numbers to 30 million by 2030. Yet some observers are cautious, saying regional instability, including the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, as well as economic pressures, threaten to challenge the museum's potential to deliver a major boost for Egypt's tourism sector.