Egypt on Monday celebrated the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) Library, a new research facility officials say will strengthen cultural ties with France and support international scholarship.
GEM Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Ghoneim said the library holds around 17,000 specialised titles covering Egyptology, archaeology, conservation, museology, architecture, history and cultural heritage.
Developed with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the library is intended to foster scientific and research cooperation and promote Egyptian and world heritage.
Among the collection’s highlights is its oldest volume: an Italian book dating to 1656, described as one of the earliest museum catalogues. Ghoneim said the book is a reminder of the long tradition of preserving and sharing knowledge.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy underlined the “extremely strong” relationship between Egypt and France, saying he met the French Culture Minister last week and agreed to continue expanding cultural cooperation and launching new joint projects.
“With the strong relations between the leadership, between President El Sisi and President Macron, I believe the relations with France in all aspects and areas of cooperation can only get better,” Fathy told The Gazette, adding he was optimistic about future collaboration.
He also pointed to growing tourism from France, saying arrivals rose by 31 per cent last year and are up 21 per cent so far this year. He added that Egypt aims to at least double French tourism over the next three years.
The project drew on several French partners, including French architecture and design firm Jakob + MacFarlane.
Cofounder Brendan MacFarlane described the library as “a project within a project,” noting the wider museum is already complete and welcoming visitors.
MacFarlane told The Gazette the space’s geometry was inspired by the three pyramids. “In plan, architects, we love geometry, so we call this a rhomboid space,” he said, explaining that the angles informed the design of the furniture and fittings.
The firm created custom tables and sloping bookcases, designed to echo pyramid-like forms and offer readers a more tactile experience with each volume.
He added that the library is also a symbol of the long-standing cultural dialogue between France and Egypt, with many works in the collection reflecting centuries of scholarly exchange.
The opening was attended by numerous diplomats. Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen said the library reinforces the concept of the Grand Egyptian Museum as more than an exhibition space.
He described it as a centre for conservation, history and research, and said the new facility would support the idea of a “living museum,” where researchers, students and visitors can consult both rare and modern books on archaeology and ancient civilisations.
“I’m curious to check the books, especially the old books, about ancient Egypt and archaeology,” he told this newspaper.
Former Egyptian ambassador to France Alaa Youssef, now head of the State Information Service, said the opening made him proud, citing France’s support for Egypt’s cultural sector, particularly through the museum and its library.
He highlighted the depth of Franco-Egyptian cultural relations, noting the role of French scholars in the emergence of Egyptology.
“I’m very delighted to see the evolution of the cooperation between the two countries, not only in the field of culture but also in different fields. I’m also delighted to see that these relations keep on developing in every field.”
