The billion-dollar museum Egyptians can’t enter

Valued at over one billion dollars, the museum houses thousands of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including the complete Tutankhamun collection. The opening was met with widespread national excitement, as over 18,000 people visited on the first full day. Social media platforms in Egypt reflected strong public pride.

However, shortly after the launch, Egyptian citizens began experiencing issues when attempting to book tickets. Many reported being turned away at the entrance and told that only online bookings were accepted. Attempts to book through the online system were often met with messages indicating that tickets for Egyptians were "sold out." In contrast, foreign and Arab tourists appeared able to book tickets without similar difficulties.

The fact-checking platform Saheeh Masr (Right Egypt), operating under the Arabic hashtag #صحيح_مصر, conducted a comparative test. According to their findings, foreign visitors and Arab tourists were able to reserve tickets successfully, while Egyptian users attempting to book the same time slots received "sold out" notifications.

This incident generated significant public reaction across various platforms, including X, Reddit, and local forums. Many users expressed frustration, raising concerns about transparency, fairness, and the museum's intended audience.

In response to the criticism, museum officials stated that there is no explicit prioritisation of foreign visitors. However, they acknowledged that a portion of tickets is allocated for international tourists and that online booking restrictions are implemented during peak times to manage crowd control.

The controversy has sparked debate over whether the GEM underestimated domestic interest or if the decision is financially motivated, as ticket prices for foreign visitors are higher. The situation has prompted a broader discussion about whether the museum, intended to represent and celebrate Egyptian heritage, is accessible enough to its own citizens.