About 99% of construction work in the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has been completed, according to Atef Moftah, the General Supervisor of the GEM project. He explained that the works on the site are 99% complete, while the structural work is 100% completed. His remarks came during the meeting of the Board of Directors of GEM, which is chaired by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Anany. The meeting dealt with several issues, especially the latest executive works in GEM and the progress of the archaeological work in the museum ahead of its opening. Regarding the development of GEM's surrounding area, Moftah explained that the external yards and cultivations have been completed by 98%. He said that the completion volume in the surrounding external roads has reached 92%. He also announced the completion of 100% of the concrete and metal structure work of the Khufu Boat Museum and that the necessary finishes for the building are underway. Moftah also reviewed the architectural solution to increase the parking capacity of vehicles to reach more than 2,000 parking spaces instead of the current capacity of 1,300 cars. Eltayeb Abbas, the Assistant Minister for Archaeological Affairs at GEM, said that 96% of the finishes for the main exhibition halls have been completed and more than 55,500 artefacts have so far been transferred to the museum. He added that 99% of the entrance hall and the great staircase's archaeological work was finished. Moreover, Abbas mentioned that more than 99% of King Tutankhamun's Hall finishes have been completed. GEM, built on a total area of 117 feddan in Giza, is the largest museum in the world dedicated to one civilisation, and its opening is eagerly awaited. The museum will display over 5,000 artefacts from the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which will be displayed together for the first time since their discovery. The museum also features the first hanging obelisk in the world, along with a grand staircase replete with monumental artefacts. GEM will preserve the one-of-a-kind Pharaonic heritage by displaying the diversity of Egypt's monuments and artefacts in one place and one location.
