What has changed?

No more paperwork: You no longer need to fill out the physical arrival card before heading to passport control.

Electronic processing: Immigration officers now scan your passport and enter your details directly into the system.

Faster queues: This change significantly reduces waiting times at the terminal, getting you to your hotel much sooner.

What do you still need?

While the arrival cards are gone, the entry requirements remain the same:

• Visa on arrival: You still need to purchase your entry visa at the bank counter ($25) before joining the passport queue.
• Passport validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of arrival.
• Hotel details: It is always smart to have your hotel name or voucher ready, as the officer might ask for your stay details verbally.

This is a fantastic step toward making Egypt a more tourist-friendly destination. We look forward to seeing you in the sunshine!

Key details:

Who is it for? Passengers of any nationality flying with EgyptAir.

Duration: The visa is valid for a stay between 8 and 96 hours.

Cost: It is completely free of charge.

How to get it: You must head to the EgyptAir office at Cairo International Airport upon arrival to verify your onward ticket and receive the permit.

Why use a free transit visa?

If you have a long layover in Cairo, you can now visit the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, or enjoy a Nile dinner cruise without paying the standard $25 entry fee.

For many Egyptians, Koshary is more than just food. It’s a symbol of community, affordability, and cultural identity. Affordable yet satisfying, the dish remains popular from busy Cairo streets to serene coastal towns. According to the UNESCO nomination, Koshary brings together simple ingredients, rice, pasta, lentils, and fried onions, transformed by tomato sauce, garlic, vinegar and chili, and served in family kitchens, bustling restaurants, and humble street carts. “This listing is a new confirmation of the global appreciation for everyday Egyptian culture,” said Hanno, praising the generations of cooks and street vendors who preserved Koshary’s tradition.

Simple Koshary recipe (for home cooking)

Want to try Koshary at home? Here’s an easy, classic version, delicious for a cozy family meal:

Ingredients (serves 2–3):

1 cup rice

1 cup small pasta (macaroni or small tube pasta)

¾ cup black lentils (or brown if unavailable)

1 can chickpeas (optional but common)

2–3 large onions, thinly sliced

2–3 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying onions)

For the sauce:

2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes

2–3 cloves garlic, minced

1–2 tbsp vinegar

Salt, pepper, chili flakes or hot sauce (to taste)

Instructions:

Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.

In a separate pot, boil lentils until tender (about 15–20 min). Drain.

Cook pasta until al dente; drain and set aside.

Fry the sliced onions in hot oil until dark golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Mix tomato sauce with minced garlic, vinegar, salt, and chili — simmer gently for 5–10 min.

In a large bowl or plate, layer rice, lentils, pasta (and chickpeas if using). Pour sauce over the top, then sprinkle generously with crispy onions. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Why this UNESCO recognition matters

This acknowledgment by UNESCO does more than honor a popular dish. It celebrates a living tradition passed down through generations. For visitors to Egypt, whether you’re exploring the ruins, diving in the Red Sea, or simply strolling through a busy street, tasting Koshary becomes more than a meal: it’s a way to connect with the heart and soul of the country. With Koshary now on the world stage, there’s no better time than today to try it for yourself. Share it with friends, make it at home, or enjoy it from a street cart, you’re part of preserving a piece of Egypt’s living heritage.

Why did Egypt need such a massive museum?

For centuries, Egypt has guarded one of the richest archaeological heritages in the world. But as discoveries grew, so did the need for a new home, one capable of preserving and showcasing the full glory of ancient Egypt.

1. A growing treasure that outgrew its homes

For more than 150 years, Egypt’s priceless antiquities faced a major challenge. There were simply too many artifacts and not enough space to display them. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (opened in 1902) had space to display only a small fraction of its total collection, roughly 120,000 artifacts. However, its basement and storerooms contained hundreds of thousands more items that could not be exhibited due to space limitations and outdated facilities.

2. From one museum to another

The first official effort to protect Egyptian antiquities began under Mohamed Ali Pasha in 1835, when a small collection of artifacts was displayed in a building at Azbakeya Garden in Cairo. This was Egypt’s first antiquities museum, though small and poorly protected. In 1858, Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, moved the collection to Bulaq, on the Nile’s edge. It became Egypt’s first true museum of antiquities, but was flooded several times, damaging artifacts. After severe flooding, the collection was transferred to Ismail Pasha’s Giza Palace, where it remained temporarily.

3. Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (1902–2025)

The current Egyptian Museum, designed by French architect Marcel Dourgnon, was opened in 1902 in Tahrir Square. It housed tens of thousands of artifacts, including all of the Tutankhamun treasures.

4. The birth of a permanent home the Grand Egyptian Museum

When Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62) in November 1922, he and his team found an astonishing over 5,000 artifacts inside. After that, even the Tahrir museum became overcrowded. That’s when the vision of the Grand Egyptian Museum was born — to create a lasting home worthy of Egypt’s timeless legacy.

A harmony between heritage and modernity in the Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum was designed by Heneghan Peng Architects from Ireland. They won a UNESCO-sponsored global competition with more than 1,500 entries from 83 countries. The design blends seamlessly with the Giza Plateau, making the museum feel like part of the landscape. Its alabaster façade, built from translucent triangular panels, lets in natural sunlight. The result is a soft golden glow inside, inspired by the light of ancient Egyptian temples.

From Ramses II to the Grand Staircase: A visual journey through time

The first thing visitors see at the Grand Egyptian Museum is the colossal statue of Ramses II, a true masterpiece of ancient art. This 3,200-year-old statue was carefully relocated from Ramses Square in Cairo, a complex engineering operation completed in 2018. Behind it stands the museum’s centerpiece, the Grand Staircase, covering 6,000 square meters and lined with 80 massive artifacts that honor Egypt’s greatest pharaohs and gods. Walking up these steps feels like a journey through Egypt’s ancient history. It ending with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Great Pyramids of Giza through the museum’s glass façade.

Exhibition halls: From the dawn of civilization to the glory of Tutankhamun

The GEM contains 12 main exhibition halls divided into four chronological sections, covering Egyptian history from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era. At its core lie two entire halls dedicated to Tutankhamun, displaying all 5,398 artifacts from his tomb together for the first time in history. There you will see his golden mask, chariot, jewelry, weapons, and personal belongings. The exhibition employs immersive digital storytelling to narrate the young pharaoh’s life and death.

Unseen treasures revealed

The museum also features newly restored masterpieces, including:

• The treasures of Queen Hetepheres (mother of King Khufu), displayed intact in their original condition.
• The Dendera Cache and the recently unearthed Asasif Coffin Hoard from Luxor.
• The mysterious Abbassiya Axe, dated to over 700,000 years old — one of Egypt’s most puzzling discoveries.

Outside the main halls stands the Khufu Boat Museum, showcasing Pharaoh Khufu’s solar barque being restored live in front of visitors, a three-year open conservation display.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is also a cultural and educational hub

The museum is more than an exhibition space. It includes:

• A Children’s Museum (5,000 m²) offering interactive learning about ancient Egypt.
• A state-of-the-art Conservation Center (32,000 m²) located 10 meters underground.
• A specialized Egyptology Library and conference hall for 1,000 guests.
• Restaurants, retail centers, and gardens designed to make the museum a complete cultural destination.

Global media spotlight

The Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening drew worldwide media attention. The Guardian hailed it as “the most significant cultural project of the 21st century.” The New York Times praised its “masterful harmony between authenticity and modern design,” while National Geographic described it as “a living bridge connecting Egypt’s past and future.” Major news agencies, including Reuters and AP, broadcasted the ceremony live, underscoring Egypt’s resurgence as a global cultural leader.

Egypt’s new cultural gateway – Grand Egyptian Museum

The opening of the museum marks the beginning of a new chapter in humanity’s relationship with one of its oldest civilizations. The inauguration for official guests will take place from November 1 to 3, 2025, with public access beginning on November 4 — coinciding with the 103rd anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. The museum is expected to welcome over 5 million visitors annually, cementing its place as a cornerstone of Egypt’s tourism and heritage preservation strategy. If you would like to find yourself in this timeless story of Egypt that ensures that ancient Egypt continues to inspire the modern world, just contact Hurghada Today.

On March 15, 2025, the world witnessed significant media hype following a press conference in Italy. A team of researchers—comprising Italians Corrado Malanga (University of Pisa) and Armando Meggi (University of Naples), and Scotsman Filippo Biondi (University of Strathclyde)—announced an allegedly groundbreaking discovery beneath the Giza Plateau. The claim centered on the detection of a complete city discovered under Khafre’s Pyramid, including colossal structures and secret chambers at profound depths, all identified using a remote sensing technology known as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This news sparked widespread debate in both scientific and public circles, opening the door to numerous theories about the true purpose of the pyramids.

The claims were not ordinary; they described structures that defy the known engineering logic of the ancient Egyptians:

• Giant Columns: The team claimed to have discovered 8 massive cylindrical columns directly beneath Khafre’s Pyramid.
• Enormous Dimensions: Each alleged column measures over 600 meters in length—equivalent to a 200-story building and more than four times the height of Khafre’s Pyramid itself (approx. 140 meters).
• The Secret Chamber: The remote sensing indicated a large, 80-cubic-meter void (chamber) beneath these columns.
• Extended Structures: An interconnected structure was reported, extending for more than 2 kilometers beneath the surface, complete with a network of passages and channels.

These findings, if proven true, would not only change our understanding of ancient Egyptian history but would also rewrite the history of human engineering.

The methodology used: synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

The researchers used SAR technology, a type of radar normally applied in mapping and aerial surveys. It works by sending radio waves from satellites — in this case, the Italian Cosmo-SkyMed system — toward the Earth’s surface. The returning signals are then analyzed to create detailed images.

What makes this study unique is that it was the first time SAR was used for archaeology in this way. According to the team, the technology allowed them to detect deep underground structures from space, without needing excavation permits or even visiting Egypt in person.

Scientific refutation and academic skepticism

Despite the sensational nature of the claims, they were met with extreme caution and widespread skepticism from the scientific community. The main shortcomings can be summarized as follows:

1. Absence of peer review

In academic research, there’s a key rule called “blind peer review.” It ensures that every study is checked and confirmed by other experts before being accepted as valid. So far, these findings haven’t appeared in any trusted, peer-reviewed scientific journal. Instead, the first results and images were shared on a personal Facebook account, a move that goes against the core principles of serious research. True scientific work is verified through professional journals, not on social media.

2. The technical limitations of SAR

The biggest issue with these claims is the method used. While SAR technology works well for mapping surfaces and landscapes, it struggles to see deep underground. Its ability to pass through solid rock and soil is very limited.

• Experts in geophysics agree that this kind of radar — especially from a satellite — can’t go deeper than a few dozen meters, even under ideal conditions. Detecting detailed structures “600 meters or 2 kilometers below the surface” is simply impossible.
• Lawrence Conyers, a geology radar expert from the University of Denver, explained in an interview that “radar pulses from a satellite will not penetrate to the depths they are claiming,” calling the discovery a “gross exaggeration.”

3. Researcher self-contradiction about city discovered under the pyramid

The greatest irony is that two of the researchers (Malanga and Biondi) published a paper in 2022 in the reputable journal Remote Sensing concerning the Great Pyramid (Khufu). In the abstract of that study, they explicitly stated that SAR waves have a “weak effect in penetrating solid bodies.” This stark contradiction raises an obvious question: How did the same technology, deemed incapable of penetration three years ago, suddenly become capable of detecting structures 2 km deep?

4. Silence from academic institutions

The researchers’ universities, including Pisa and Strathclyde, have stayed silent. No official statements or press releases were issued. This is not unusual behavior, because if the discovery were real, the universities would be promoting great achievements.

5. The lead researcher’s background

The lead researcher, Corrado Malanga, although a professor of chemistry, has personal interests and numerous writings in fields of “pseudoscience,” including theories on alien abductions, “stargates,” and hypnosis to recover alleged memories. This background raises doubts about his commitment to rigorous scientific methodology when interpreting data.

Analysis of the claim’s virality: why now?

The viral spread of this story can be attributed to several factors:

1. Media Marketing: The team chose to announce their findings via a press conference for the general media rather than a scientific conference for specialists. Journalists (who are non-experts) are more likely to be impressed by the results and publish them without immediate scientific scrutiny.
2. Partial Credibility: The fact that the researchers have previously published legitimate research (like the 2022 paper) initially gave them a “heard voice.”
3. Confirmation Bias: A large segment of the public is unconvinced that the pyramids are “just tombs” and wants to believe alternative theories (such as them being power generators or linked to lost civilizations). This “discovery” conveniently supported their desires.

It’s important to separate this claim from real scientific work like the ScanPyramids project, which used proven methods to find actual voids in Khufu’s Pyramid. Unlike sensational claims, its results were peer-reviewed and published in top scientific journals such as Nature.

So, the mystery of city discovered under the pyramid still waiting to be proven

Big discoveries need solid proof — and this one doesn’t have it yet. The idea of giant hidden structures beneath Giza sounds exciting, but without verified data, it stays more science fiction than fact. Egyptologists don’t rule out smaller voids under the plateau, but claims of 600-meter columns need real evidence, not blurry radar scans or Facebook posts. If you’re curious to see the wonders of Egypt yourself, plan a trip to Cairo with Hurghada Today. There are waiting you real mysteries of ancient history, and city discovered under the pyramid….can wait a little more.

The excavation is carried out at the site of Taposiris Magna, 60 miles from Cairo, in the hope that the secret of the last pharaoh of Egypt will finally be revealed. Their research will be presented on the Science Channel on June 21, under the title “Cleopatra, Sex, Lies and Secrets”. A new theory set by archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Martinez suggests that Cleopatra’s tomb could be found at this location.