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As part of the Grand Egyptian Museum’s (GEM) plan to transport King Khufu's Solar Boat.
The transportation of King Khufu's boat is considered one of the most important projects carried out by the GEM, which aims primarily to preserve the largest, most ancient, and most important organic monument in history. The idea of bringing King Khufu’s boat to the GEM came as a result of noting how the Giza Solar Boat Museum, established in 1985, obscures the southern side of Khufu's pyramid, resulting in the visual distortion of this important world heritage site. The Solar Giza Boat Museum lacks distinctive display approaches that are no longer appropriate for the importance and value of this unique monument. In addition, the building is not equipped with accessibility facilities or services that allow handicapped visitors to enjoy the boat.
A new museum is currently under construction that will sit separately from the main building of the GEM to display both of King Khufu's boats. The new museum will be equipped with the latest scientific and technological systems in terms of museum display techniques, climate, and lighting control equipment, to ensure adequate protection for these boats from weather and heat factors, in addition to fire and risk management protocols.
This holds a full-size ancient Egyptian boat discovered in pieces in 1954, lying in a pit beside the pyramid.
The so-called solar boat or Cheops’ ship, dated in 2,500 BC in the Early Bronze Age, is clearly, due to its dimensions and typology, a high sea vessel. It is a ship dedicated to trading with Lebanon, from where the Egyptians brought the cedarwood, so necessary for the construction of ships and buildings.
