Egypt announces November 1 paid holiday marking official opening of Grand Egyptian Museum

CAIRO – 25 October 2025: Egypt’s Cabinet announced that Saturday, November 1, 2025, will be an official paid holiday for all public sector employees nationwide, marking the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Mohamed El-Homossany, the Cabinet’s Official Spokesperson, stated in a statement that Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly has decided to grant the day off to employees in ministries, government agencies, public authorities, local administration units, and companies in both the public and public business sectors. The decision followed a meeting held earlier on Saturday between the Prime Minister and senior officials with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

El-Homossany explained that the move comes in accordance with the directives of President El-Sisi to facilitate the smooth organization and movement of foreign delegations participating in the grand celebration of the museum’s opening. The event is expected to draw numerous kings, heads of state, and high-level officials from around the world, along with prominent international figures.

He added that the decision will also allow Egyptians the opportunity to follow and celebrate this historic occasion, which the world is eagerly anticipating as one of Egypt’s most significant cultural and touristic milestones.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met, on Saturday, with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister; Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities; and Mr. Mohamed El-Saadi, Board Member of the United Media Services Company and General Supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening ceremony. The meeting has tackled the preparation for the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) due on November 1.

The Official Spokesperson for the Presidency Mohamed El-Shenawy stated that during the meeting, the President reviewed the ongoing preparations for the grand celebration. The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities presented an overview of the measures and arrangements being carried out in coordination with various ministries and relevant authorities, including logistical preparations, proposed program segments, and organizational details.

The Spokesperson explained that President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of continued coordination among all concerned entities to ensure that the opening ceremony reflects Egypt’s distinguished status, its leadership in the fields of museums and global culture, and its efforts to promote tourism.

During the meeting also, President Sisi underscored the need for the event to showcase not only the grandeur of this monumental cultural project, but also the scale of Egypt’s broader achievements and development across various sectors, consistent with the country’s rich civilizational heritage and its stature on the global stage.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of development projects in the area surrounding the museum, as part of the comprehensive preparations for the opening.

The Official Spokesperson added that the meeting further addressed several issues related to the work of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with the President being briefed on the latest updates in the national tourism development plans.