Grand Egyptian Museum Raises Foreign Tickets on 1 November
EGYPT · TRAVEL
Key Facts
- —What is happening Egypt raises Grand Egyptian Museum ticket prices on Sunday, 1 November 2026, and foreign adults go from about US$30 to US$35 while Egyptian adults pay EGP 220 (about US$4).
- —Why it matters Admission includes the Tutankhamun Galleries at the museum near the Giza Pyramids, so the US$5 rise per foreign adult costs a couple about US$10 more.
- —The numbers Foreign adults pay EGP 1,830 (about US$34) instead of EGP 1,570 (about US$29), while foreign students, children and foreign residents of Egypt pay EGP 920 (about US$17).
- —Who is who Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, led by Minister Sherif Fathy, announced the rise after a board meeting of the authority that runs the museum.
- —What to watch The first day at the new prices is Sunday, 1 November 2026, and it is not confirmed whether tickets bought earlier for later dates keep the old price.
- —What it means for you A US couple pays about US$70 instead of US$60 for two adult tickets, so book only on the official site and check the entry rules early.
Foreign adults pay about US$35 instead of US$30 at the Grand Egyptian Museum from Sunday, 1 November 2026. Egyptian adults pay about US$4, and the official booking site is tickets.gem.eg.
Ticket prices at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), beside the Giza Pyramids, rise on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Egypt’s tourism ministry says foreign visitors pay US$5 more, taking the adult ticket from US$30 to US$35.
Egyptian newspapers list the new foreign adult price as EGP 1,830 (about US$34), up from EGP 1,570 (about US$29). The ministry quotes the rise in dollars, and one newspaper reports that pound prices are updated monthly with the exchange rate.
What Changes on 1 November
Foreign adults pay EGP 1,830 (about US$34) instead of EGP 1,570 (about US$29), a rise of about 16.6 percent. Foreign students and children pay EGP 920 (about US$17), up from EGP 790 (about US$14.50).
Foreigners who live in Egypt pay EGP 920 (about US$17) for adults, up from EGP 790 (about US$14.50). Resident foreign students and children pay EGP 460 (about US$8), up from EGP 400 (about US$7).
Egyptian adults pay EGP 220 (about US$4), up from EGP 200 (about US$3.70). Egyptian students, children and seniors pay EGP 110 (about US$2), up from EGP 100 (about US$1.80).
These pound figures come from Egypt Independent, Ahram Online and CairoScene, which print the same new list. Conversions use an exchange rate of EGP 54.39 per US$1 on 22 October 2026.
Who Decided and When
The change is not new, because the tourism ministry announced it in April. Ahram Online reported on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, that fees would rise by US$5 for foreign visitors and EGP 20 for Egyptians.
The ministry decided after a board meeting of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, chaired by Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy. The board reviewed visitor numbers and revenue from the November 2025 opening to the end of March.
Egypt Today reported on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, that foreign tickets would rise from US$30 to US$35 on 1 November. It said the ministry links the rise to running costs, upkeep and a better visitor experience.
Masrawy, an Egyptian news site, said on 15 April that the old foreign adult ticket was US$30, or EGP 1,590. It added that pound prices follow the dollar rate and are updated monthly.
The Museum and Its Opening Hours
The Grand Egyptian Museum stands near the Giza Pyramids and opened to visitors in November 2025. The official booking site says admission includes the Tutankhamun Galleries.
On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the complex opens from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. The galleries on those days open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
On Wednesday and Saturday, the complex stays open until 10 at night and the galleries until 9. Last entry is one hour before the galleries close.
How to Book Grand Egyptian Museum Tickets
The museum says its booking site, tickets.gem.eg, is the only official seller. It adds that it is not responsible for tickets bought anywhere else.
You choose admission or a guided tour, a visit date, a tour language of Arabic or English, and an entry time. The entry time sets when you may enter, not how long you may stay.
You can add extras and an immersive show that runs after museum hours on the same day. You then enter your name, email, mobile number and nationality, and you can apply a promo code.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, and each allows one entry only. Some dates show a notice that the selected tickets are sold out or that maximum capacity has been reached.
Rules Inside the Museum
Bags larger than 40 by 40 centimetres, about 16 by 16 inches, must be stored. Flash, tripods, selfie sticks, drones and live streaming are not allowed anywhere in the museum.
Photography is allowed except in designated areas inside the Tutankhamun Galleries. Outside food and drink are not permitted, apart from small water bottles inside the galleries.
Children must stay with an adult at all times, and visitors must not touch artefacts or displays. Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor areas.
Entry and Safety for US Visitors
The State Department’s country page lists a passport valid for six months and at least one blank page. It points visitors to the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate for visa questions.
Egypt’s official e-visa portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, tells applicants to create an application at least 7 days before departure. Payment is by credit or debit card, and a status email follows.
The State Department rates Egypt Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in an advisory issued on 15 October 2024. It rates North and Middle Sinai Level 4, Do Not Travel, and advises against the Western Desert.
The advisory says attacks can occur with little warning, including in Cairo, and have hit tourist locations and transport hubs. It also says protests without a permit are illegal.
The country page calls driving in Egypt extremely hazardous and suggests a taxi or hired driver instead. It also says tap water is not safe to drink in some locations, so carry bottled water.
What It Means for You
A couple visiting after 1 November pays about US$70 for two foreign adult tickets, instead of US$60. A family with two adults and two foreign children should budget about US$104, using US$35 per adult and about US$17 per child.
Foreigners who live in Egypt, including US citizens, fall under the resident category at EGP 920 (about US$17) for adults. The proof the museum asks for has not been published.
Book only on tickets.gem.eg and check the total at checkout, because pound prices can move with the exchange rate. Choose a Wednesday or Saturday if you want the longer evening hours.
What Is Not Known
It is not confirmed whether tickets bought before 1 November for visits after that date pay the old or the new price. The booking page showed no ticket prices before a ticket was chosen.
The ministry quotes US$35, but the pound list works out to about US$34 at the 22 October rate. Prices for guided tours, extras and the immersive show were not found, and any change to them is not confirmed.
The proof needed for the student, child and resident categories is not published. The visa fee for US citizens was not confirmed, so check the portal and the embassy.
What Comes Next
The new prices start on Sunday, 1 November 2026, and no further rise has been announced. Pound prices may change month by month, so check the booking page again shortly before your visit.
Connected Coverage
The Rio Times Egypt news hub collects the latest coverage of the country. The pillar Egypt Explained gives the wider background.
The Rio Times Cairo city guide and What to Do in Cairo in October 2026 cover the capital next to the museum. For safety detail, read Egypt Security and Crime Explained 2026.
Visa and departure fee changes are in Egypt Replaces Visa Stamp with QR Code e-Visa in August. Another dated trip near Cairo is covered in Egyptian Luxor Marathon on Friday 8 January 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Grand Egyptian Museum ticket for foreigners from 1 November?
The ministry says foreign adults pay US$5 more, from US$30 to US$35, from Sunday, 1 November 2026. Egyptian papers list EGP 1,830 (about US$34) for adults and EGP 920 (about US$17) for students and children.
Do foreigners who live in Egypt pay less at the museum?
Yes, the list has a resident category at EGP 920 (about US$17) for adults and EGP 460 (about US$8) for children. The proof required has not been published.
What do US visitors need to enter Egypt for the museum?
The State Department page lists a passport valid for six months and one blank page, and refers visa questions to Egyptian missions. The official e-visa portal asks you to apply at least 7 days before departure.
Sources: Grand Egyptian Museum, official booking site; Ahram Online, GEM ticket prices, 17 October 2026; Ahram Online, 15 April 2026; Egypt Independent; Egypt Today; Masrawy; CairoScene; US State Department, Egypt travel advisory; US State Department, Egypt country information; Egypt e-visa portal; exchange rates, 22 October 2026 (all accessed 22 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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