Africanews

Grand Egyptian Museum marks first anniversary with dazzling light show

Share Report:
Grand Egyptian Museum marks first anniversary with dazzling light show
  • The walls of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) came alive Sunday with dazzling lights and music on the opening night of the "Eternal Sun" show.

    Marking the first anniversary of the museum's grand opening, the spectacular light show brings to life stories that have shaped Egyptian civilisation over the centuries.

    "We want to tell the world that Egypt is still telling its history, using the latest technology, and always in a new way," said the show's creative director, Amr Abdel Nasser.

    A year after its grand opening, GEM has welcomed around 5 million visitors, about 60% of them foreigners, according to the museum's CEO, Ahmed Ghoneim.

    The $1 billion museum, also known as GEM, was touted as the world’s largest when it was lavishly inaugurated last year.

    It’s home to nearly 50,000 artefacts, including the collection of treasures from the tomb of the famed King Tutankhamun, which was discovered in 1922.

    The museum, located near the pyramids at the edge of Cairo, is expected to boost Egypt’s tourism revenues and help bolster its ailing economy.

    "This museum doesn't just present artefacts, but it presents a different experience, a new experience for the visitor, whether Egyptian or foreign, through the use of different technological means," Ghoneim said.

    The show begins after sunset and is set to run for six months

    Related articles

    Grand Egyptian museum set for historic opening, showcasing the full legacy of Tutankhamun

    Long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens 12 galleries to the public

    Grand Egyptian Museum receives artefacts ahead of launch

    From the same country

    Egypt raises over $650 million in IPO of state-owned bank

    Crowds watch twice-a-year sunrise ceremony at Abu Simbel temple

    Egypt will 'defend Saudi territory' and won't attack Yemen, Sisi says

    Grand Egyptian museum set for historic opening, showcasing the full legacy of Tutankhamun

    Long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens 12 galleries to the public 02:20

      Long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens 12 galleries to the public

      Grand Egyptian Museum receives artefacts ahead of launch

        Grand Egyptian Museum receives artefacts ahead of launch

        Egypt raises over $650 million in IPO of state-owned bank 01:49

          Egypt raises over $650 million in IPO of state-owned bank

          Crowds watch twice-a-year sunrise ceremony at Abu Simbel temple 01:21

            Crowds watch twice-a-year sunrise ceremony at Abu Simbel temple

            Egypt will 'defend Saudi territory' and won't attack Yemen, Sisi says 01:52

              Egypt will 'defend Saudi territory' and won't attack Yemen, Sisi says

              Grand Egyptian museum set for historic opening, showcasing the full legacy of Tutankhamun

              Long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens 12 galleries to the public 02:20

                Long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum opens 12 galleries to the public

                Grand Egyptian Museum receives artefacts ahead of launch

                  Grand Egyptian Museum receives artefacts ahead of launch

                  Egypt raises over $650 million in IPO of state-owned bank 01:49

                    Egypt raises over $650 million in IPO of state-owned bank

                    Crowds watch twice-a-year sunrise ceremony at Abu Simbel temple 01:21

                      Crowds watch twice-a-year sunrise ceremony at Abu Simbel temple

                      Egypt will 'defend Saudi territory' and won't attack Yemen, Sisi says 01:52

                        Egypt will 'defend Saudi territory' and won't attack Yemen, Sisi says

                        NO COMMENT

                        01:00

                        Vatican: Century of Mercedes-Benz popemobiles goes on display

                        NO COMMENT

                        01:00

                        Rembrandt's masterpieces become tattoos in the Netherlands

                        BUSINESS AFRICA 11:07 Senegal: What strategies to tackle the debt? [Business Africa]

                        NEWS

                        Go to video

                        Egypt detains journalist Lina Attalah after court ruling

                        NEWS 01:07 Egypt road crash leaves 13 dead and 34 injured after a bus collides with a truck

                        NEWS

                        01:34

                        Sudanese gold miners describe deadly airstrike that killed 72

                        00:53 International trade agreements South Africa and Rwanda to be excluded from US-Africa trade deal

                        01:14 Cameroon At least 4 dead and 16 injured following explosion at Cameroon steel plant

                        00:58 Caribbean King Charles to address slavery discussion with 'unflinching honesty' in Commonwealth speech