Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited today the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) overlooking Ain Al-Sira Lake at Fustat where he was accompanied by Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany to inspect the latest work to develop the whole surrounding area. Within months, the NMEC will welcome a collection of 22 royal mummies and 17 royal sarcophagi to be put on permanent display at the museum. There is also a project to develop the area around the museum in order to facilitate visitor services and a road leading to the museum. El-Enany said that NMEC covers 135,000 square metres. It is located overlooking Ain Al-Sira Lake close to the religious compound where Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque is located, neighbouring the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue. He continued that the first phase of development of the museum has been completed, including the reception area, store galleries, restoration labs and administration areas, as well as parking areas. The second phase is 95 percent completed, including the electricity, security and fire fighting systems, interior design of the reception area, and architectural work on a glass pyramid. As for the third phase, El-Enany said about 96 percent of its work has been implemented, including exhibition halls (the central exhibition hall has a surface area of 2570 m2), the royal mummies hall (with a surface area of 2810 m2), and the capital museum hall (with a surface area of 910 m2). Madbouly also visited the aqueduct to inspect works as part of the Fustat development project. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, head of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Department, said that restoration work of the aqueduct is finished and its rehabilitation to use is being studied, to transform it into a museum for water edifices. The aqueduct was built by Al-Nasr Salah El Din Al-Ayyouby and renovated during the reign of Al-Nasr Mohamed Ibd Qalawoun, while Sultan Qunsuwa Al-Ghury built the aqeduct's water wheels.
