SIS: Opening ceremony of Grand Egyptian Museum watched by more than billion people worldwide

CAIRO – 3 November 2025:  Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) confirmed that, amid an atmosphere of awe, passion, and joy, hundreds of millions of people across five continents watched live the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), presided over by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attended by delegations from nearly 80 countries.  The event was broadcast live by thousands of television channels and digital streaming platforms. Even larger audiences around the world later followed recordings, highlights, photographs, news reports, and commentaries covering the historic ceremony.

The SIS noted that these findings were based on extensive media monitoring conducted by its departments over the past two days. 

Journalist Diaa Rashwan, Head of the SIS, stated that continuous monitoring of global television networks and digital streaming applications revealed that the vast majority of media outlets aired substantial portions of the opening ceremony. This coverage included major international news and political channels, in addition to numerous news agencies reporting in multiple languages.

Rashwan emphasized that the television and digital coverage extended well beyond the 79 countries whose leaders and representatives attended the ceremony. It included dozens of additional countries and media outlets across continents, making it one of the most widely broadcast and comprehensively covered cultural events worldwide in recent decades.

He further explained that several leading television stations aired the entire ceremony with live translations into various foreign languages, while others featured segments lasting from a few minutes to an hour. Many networks repeatedly broadcast news segments, video highlights, and background features on the treasures of Pharaonic civilization and the museum itself, presenting the event as part of Egypt’s broader renaissance and its ongoing efforts to modernize infrastructure across service, economic, cultural, and social sectors.

Rashwan added that the overwhelmingly positive global media coverage of the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening- before, during, and after the event- placed Egypt prominently at the center of international attention. The ceremony, watched by more than one billion viewers worldwide, represented a significant national achievement that will enhance Egypt’s global image, promote tourism, and reinforce the country’s stature among nations and civilizations.

He also noted that international audiences witnessed, through the extensive coverage, a clear reflection of Egypt’s peace, stability, and security within a challenging regional and global environment. The spontaneous joy expressed by Egyptians nationwide drew admiration from global media, while images of Egypt’s modern infrastructure, its roads, airports, and public services prompted international commentators to draw parallels between the grandeur of Egypt’s ancient civilization and the comprehensive development it is pursuing today.

In addition to broadcast coverage, SIS monitored international print and digital media over the two days following the event. It documented 705 articles and reports published by 215 major newspapers, media organizations, and news websites around the world, covering the museum, its treasures, and the opening ceremony. Remarkably, 98% of this global coverage presented a positive view of the event.

Rashwan noted that the international media have closely adopted Egypt’s cultural and civilizational vision over recent years. He described the Grand Egyptian Museum as one of the flagship national projects initiated under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who since 2014 has overseen extensive investments in infrastructure to revitalize Egypt’s economy after decades of stagnation and the challenges that followed the events of 2011. Despite the difficulties encountered during construction, President Sisi was determined to complete the project, forming a dedicated team to bring to life what is now the world’s largest museum devoted to a single civilization.

International media outlets viewed the museum as a powerful message reaffirming Egypt’s pivotal role on the world stage, demonstrating that Egypt is not only the cradle of civilization, but also a central pillar in shaping the global cultural and heritage landscape.