CAIRO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday approved the opening date of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) for Nov. 1, a government statement said.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has instructed relevant ministries and organizations to prepare for the opening, which is expected to be "an exceptional event" that will attract visitors from around the world, the statement said.
The long-anticipated opening of the GEM, originally scheduled for July 3, had been postponed due to the escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Located near the iconic Giza pyramids and spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the GEM is billed as the world's largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. It will house approximately 57,000 artifacts, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said. ■
