After two decades of construction, Egypt on Saturday inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) -- the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization -- during a grand ceremony held near the pyramids and the Sphinx, marking a landmark cultural event for the country renowned for its rich heritage. 

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the colossal museum complex on the Giza Plateau in a ceremony attended by 79 delegations from around the world, including heads of state, members of royal families, and government officials. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Sun Yeli attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Saturday at the invitation of the Egyptian government. 
Staged in the museum courtyard with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx as a backdrop, the inauguration ceremony featured cultural events and artistic performances celebrating Egypt's rich heritage. Festivities included musical performances, a light show, and a fireworks display. 
Spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the museum will house an unprecedented collection of over 100,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Its undisputed centerpiece is the complete collection of the boy-king Tutankhamun -- some 5,992 pieces -- including his iconic golden mask and two coffins. This priceless collection will be displayed together for the first time since the discovery of his tomb in 1922. 
The museum occupies a symbolically significant site on the Giza Plateau, where the ancient pyramids are located, offering panoramic views of the pyramids and forging a direct connection between these ancient wonders and the new monumental cultural institution. 
The GEM is expected to act as a major catalyst for Egypt's vital tourism sector, with officials anticipating a substantial annual influx of visitors that will significantly enhance the country's tourism revenue. 
According to official data, around five to seven million tourists are expected to visit the museum per year to enjoy the splendor and grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization. 
The museum complex is set to officially open to the public on Nov. 4.