Courtesy Visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum to Strengthen Cooperation on Heritage, Education, and Innovation

UNESCO Regional Office for Egypt and Sudan (UNESCO Cairo Office), paid an official courtesy visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza, Egypt.
The UNESCO Officials were accompanied by representatives from the Egypt National Commission for UNESCO.

The main objective of the mission was to strengthen collaboration with GEM and explore areas of joint collaboration. The visit marked an important step in reinforcing cooperation between UNESCO and Egypt's leading cultural institutions. During the visit, the Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO Cairo Office, Mr. Robert Parua, held a fruitful exchanges with the leadership of GEM, spearheaded by Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the largest archaeological museums in the world dedicated to a single civilization, stands as a monumental testament to the richness and continuity of Egyptian heritage. Located near the pyramids of Giza, the museum safeguards thousands of artefacts spanning millennia of history, offering new perspectives on ancient Egyptian civilization and its enduring contributions to human knowledge, art, and identity. Beyond its role as a repository of heritage, GEM is emerging as a global cultural and knowledge hub that bridges the past and the present, fostering dialogue between civilizations and promoting a deeper understanding of humanity's shared heritage. UNESCO highlighted the museum's pivotal role in safeguarding and presenting Egyptian heritage to global audiences, while also noting the ongoing and constructive dialogue between UNESCO and GEM to advance heritage preservation, education, and international cultural cooperation.

During the meeting, the UNESCO Cairo Office and GEM leadership explored potential areas of future cooperation. Discussions focused in particular on strengthening youth and children's education programmes through museum-based learning initiatives, as well as promoting women's empowerment through cultural engagement and professional opportunities within the museum sector. The dialogue also examined ways to integrate living heritage traditions with the historical narratives presented at GEM, thereby linking Egypt's ancient cultural legacy with contemporary cultural expressions.

In addition, both sides discussed opportunities to enhance the international visibility of the Grand Egyptian Museum and further promote cultural diplomacy, positioning the museum as a platform for intercultural dialogue and global heritage exchange. The discussions also highlighted the importance of capacity building for museum staff and experts , as well as the responsible use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support museum research, collection management, and visitor engagement.

This visit reflects UNESCO's mandate to advance international cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and science, while supporting museums as vital institutions for cultural transmission and social inclusion. The dialogue is closely aligned with UNESCO's normative frameworks, including the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections (2015), the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005), the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), and the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). Through continued collaboration with national partners such as GEM, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to strengthening museums as spaces for education, cultural diversity, innovation, and intercultural dialogue.

The visit concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation between UNESCO and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with the aim of developing future initiatives that harness heritage, education, and technology to benefit communities in Egypt and beyond.