The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) officially opens to the public in 2021. One of the most important moments related to the opening of the museum was the ceremonial procession known as the "Golden Parade of the Pharaohs", in which 22 royal mummies were transferred to NMEC from the Egyptian Museum in the center of Cairo, including 18 kings (e.g. Ramesses II) and 4 queens (e.g. Hatshepsut).
NMEC has a collection of exhibits that cover the entire history of Egyptian civilization - from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum's collections are divided into different historical and thematic periods (e.g. the Gallery of Royal Mummies), giving a comprehensive picture of Egypt's cultural development. The main collection categories include:
1. Prehistoric period - exhibits from before the invention of writing, including tools, ceramics, decorations and everyday objects.
2. Pharaonic period - a rich collection from the times of ancient Egypt, including, among others, statues, jewelry, sarcophagi, tomb and temple paintings, and artifacts related to religious rituals.
3. Greco-Roman period - exhibits from the period when Egypt was under the rule of the Greeks and Romans, including sculptures, coins, ceramics and other objects of Hellenistic and Roman culture.
4. Coptic period - objects from early Christian times, including icons, textiles, manuscripts and liturgical objects.
5. Islamic period - a collection showing the development of Islamic culture in Egypt, including ceramics, weapons, coins, textiles and calligraphy.
6. Contemporary period - exhibits on the recent history of Egypt up to the present day, showing the social, cultural and political development of the country.
NMEC has a collection of approximately 50,000 items. Currently, approximately 5,000 exhibits are presented in museum exhibitions.
NMEC's exhibition area is over 23,000 square meters.