Grand Egyptian Museum to host tours, events ahead of opening 

Statue of Ramesses II. (Supplied)
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Updated 15 November 2022
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Grand Egyptian Museum to host tours, events ahead of opening 

 

DUBAI: The Grand Egyptian Museum announced on Tuesday that it will host events and tours in the complex to test the visitor experience ahead of the site opening.  

 

The complex will be partially open for a limited number of visitors. During this phase, guests will be able to experience parts of the museum like the Hanging Obelix Square in front of the museum, the grand hall, the children’s museum, the immersive hall, the outdoor areas and retail and food and beverage outlets.  




Located two kilometers from the Pyramids of Giza, the new museum complex is home to the world’s largest archaeological collection.  (Supplied)

Entry to the grand hall will give visitors access to a selection of remarkable artefacts, including the Statue of Ramesses II, the 10 Statues of Senusret, the Sakkara Cannon, the victory column of Mr-N-Ptah, in addition to the Ptolemaic King and Queen statues. 

Located two kilometers from the Pyramids of Giza, the new museum complex is home to the world’s largest archaeological collection.  

It occupies a total land area of 500,000 square meters and is situated between the Great Pyramids and the modern city of Cairo.  

All other museum interior spaces, including access to main galleries and the two Tutankhamun galleries, will remain closed in preparation for the full site opening. 


5 artists named on 2026 Ithra Art Prize shortlist

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5 artists named on 2026 Ithra Art Prize shortlist

DUBAI: Five artists from across the Arab world were announced this week as winners of the seventh edition of the Ithra Art Prize, marking a shift in the format for the one of the region’s most established contemporary art awards.

Ala Younis is from Jordan. (Supplied_

For the first time, the shortlisted artists — Aseel Al-Yaqoub from Kuwait, Bady Dalloul from Syria, Heba Y. Amin from Egypt, Ala Younis from Jordan and Jawad Al-Malhi from Palestine — will all receive production grants. Their new works will be unveiled in a dedicated exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran in spring.

Aseel Al-Yaqoub is from Kuwait. (Supplied)

The change reflects a growing emphasis on supporting artistic production rather than selecting a single winner. 

Bady Dalloul is from Syria. (Supplied)

Farah Abushullaih, head of Ithra’s museum, said: “This year’s shortlist reflects the incredible diversity, creativity and critical thought shaping contemporary art in the Arab world. Expanding the shortlist to include five finalists aims to strengthen dialogue across cultures and generations, while reaffirming Ithra’s support for artists and their distinct artistic perspectives.”

Heba Y. Amin is from Egypt. (Supplied)

This year also sees the prize exhibition returning to Dhahran, after previous editions toured cities including Dubai, AlUla and Riyadh.

Jawad Al-Malhi is from Palestine. (Supplied)

Ithra said more than 500 submissions were received through an open call, with works undergoing a multi-stage review process before the final five were selected. 

The shortlisted projects span a wide range of mediums and research-driven practices, engaging with contemporary political, social and historical questions across the Arab world.