Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli announced that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi directed that the day of the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, due on November 1, be an official public holiday across the country.
Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed al Homosany said that this decision followed a meeting held Saturday by President Sisi and was attended by the prime minister, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, member of the board of the United Media Services Company and General Supervisor of the GEM opening ceremony Mohamed el Saadi.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing preparations for organizing the grand celebration marking the museum’s opening.
In line with the directives of the president, Madbouli issued a decision declaring Saturday, November 1, an official paid holiday for employees in ministries, government institutions, public authorities, local administration units, public sector companies and public business sector companies.
Homosany added that the holiday decision reflects the president’s keenness to facilitate the smooth organization of the large-scale celebration and to ensure the efficient coordination of movements for the foreign delegations participating in this historic event, which is expected to witness the attendance of a significant number of kings, presidents, senior officials and prominent international figures.
He further noted that the decision also aims to allow Egyptian citizens the opportunity to follow and take part in the celebrations of this monumental occasion, which the entire world eagerly anticipates.
