CAIRO, Nov 3 (MENA) – Global media outlets and social platforms continue to spotlight the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, attended by leaders and delegations from nearly 80 countries.
The event drew unprecedented international media coverage for an occasion of this scale.
Reports were unanimous in praising the magnitude of Egypt’s achievement in constructing the museum and the richness of its collections.
They also highlighted the impressive organization of the inauguration ceremony, which conveyed powerful messages and projected a bright image of Egypt, a nation of ancient heritage, modern progress, and enduring civilization.
Thousands of reporters, photographers, and journalists, whether attending in person or receiving live broadcast feeds and materials, contributed to this extensive coverage.
The operation was carried out seamlessly and professionally, without any incidents or complaints.
The success reflected months of intensive preparation by the State Information Service (SIS), the official national body responsible for coordinating with foreign media and managing coverage of Egyptian affairs, both on-site and remotely.
The SIS provided necessary facilities, enforced professional standards, and monitored international reporting throughout the process.
SIS Chairman Diaa Rashwan highlighted these efforts during televised interviews on Monday evening, describing a coordinated operation by specialized SIS teams at the Foreign Press Center and other departments, in collaboration with relevant state institutions.
Rashwan noted that GEM’s promotion began nearly a year ago. Coordinating participation from such a large number of international media outlets required immense effort, resulting in 450 correspondents representing 180 international media organizations, both resident and visiting journalists who arrived specifically to cover the historic opening.
In October 2024, the SIS Foreign Press Center, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, organized a visit for 131 accredited foreign media representatives from 59 international outlets.
Between April and October 2025, 27 foreign media delegations visited the museum, filming and interviewing key officials, including Executive Director Ahmed Ghoneim and Head of the Restoration and Antiquities Transfer Center Issa Zidan.
Also, 17 one-on-one interviews were arranged with international outlets, all presenting positive promotional coverage of the museum and Egypt’s cultural tourism.
Rashwan said advance coordination meetings were held with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and other relevant entities to prepare for the inauguration.
Preparations included establishing a media center inside the museum near the small statue of Ramses II and allocating studios for foreign media to conduct live interviews free of charge during the ceremony.
Coordination was also carried out with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign embassies in Cairo to register media delegations accompanying official guests, totaling 79 delegations, and to facilitate their entry and equipment logistics.
The SIS also worked with the broadcast entity to secure transmission frequencies and provide a live-stream link to participating and non-participating international media outlets worldwide.
Rashwan concluded by noting that the SIS Foreign Press Center, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, will host visits for 70 international media representatives from Tuesday to Thursday.
The visits will include meetings with the museum’s executive director and guided tours allowing professional photography inside the main hall, which houses the colossal statue of Ramses II.
For the first time, authorized photography will also be allowed in parts of the Tutankhamun Gallery, giving audiences worldwide a comprehensive view of the museum’s unparalleled treasures. (MENA)
