Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sharif Fathy, presided over the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Legacy for Development & Management (the operating company for services at the Grand Egyptian Museum or GEM) and Vodafone Egypt, the museum’s exclusive technology partner. The ceremony, held at the museum site, was attended by Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the GEM Authority, among other officials.
The agreement establishes a unified digital infrastructure built around Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to coordinate operations across the museum’s multiple systems—ranging from lighting and elevators to ticketing, visitor flows, and energy management.
A Smart Platform for Seamless Museum Operations
Under the new arrangement, Vodafone Egypt will integrate and unify GEM’s operational systems via a centralized, scalable smart platform that leverages IoT architecture.
This infrastructure aims to:
- Improve resource management
- Optimize energy usage and reduce carbon footprint
- Enhance operational efficiency
- Enable future expansion, adding new smart modules without disrupting core services
- Provide an integrated and higher-quality visitor experience
In local media coverage, it was noted that the smart platform is designed with flexibility in mind to grow alongside the museum’s development. (اليوم السابع)
Government and Stakeholder Remarks
Dr. Amr Talaat commended the partnership for marrying heritage with high-tech innovation, saying it will help GEM solidify its global standing as a smart museum housing one of the richest single-civilization collections. He emphasized that the communications sector’s mission is not just technological advancement—but applying it to deliver societal, cultural, and developmental value.
He added that the platform will significantly enhance visitor experience, allowing people to engage more deeply with artifacts through modern interfaces while preserving the authenticity of Egypt’s cultural legacy.
Sharif Fathy hailed the project as a model for smart management in tourism and heritage sectors. He emphasized that GEM is more than an exhibition space—it is a scientific, research, and restoration hub—and that leveraging technology is essential to elevating Egypt’s global role in Egyptology.
Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of GEM Authority, described the museum as a “jewel among global museums,” emphasizing that the new system will interconnect all core operational facets—lighting, escalators, parking, crowd control, ticketing—into one intelligent network that advances sustainability and visitor flow.
Technology Partner Messages & Vision
Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, affirmed the company’s pride in being the exclusive tech partner for GEM, and said the partnership aligns with national goals for digital transformation. He emphasized that Vodafone will unify the museum’s systems on a secure, intelligent IoT platform, ensuring seamless experiences for local and global visitors.
Kareem Eid, Vodafone’s EVP for Commercial Sector, described the project as one that bridges history and modernity, connecting Egyptians to their heritage through a digital lens.
Mahmoud El-Khatib, Vodafone’s VP for Business Solutions, explained the readiness of the platform to run 19 core systems—including ticketing, access gates, internal guidance, counting, parking, and Wi-Fi—creating a synchronized and frictionless visitor journey.
Merit El-Sayed, CEO of Legacy, asserted that the museum operator is committed to operational excellence and innovation. She stated that the partnership with Vodafone will link all critical systems—from visitor flow to energy management—solidifying GEM’s place as a benchmark for museum operations in Egypt and beyond.
Strategic and Cultural Implications
GEM is slated to become the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. (Wikipedia) The smart platform agreement represents a strategic step toward positioning Egypt at the juncture of heritage preservation and digital innovation.
Notably, GEM has already established technological and sustainability collaborations, such as its previous MoU with Schneider Electric to integrate energy-efficient infrastructure. This new partnership with Vodafone complements those efforts by focusing squarely on operational intelligence and visitor-centric services.
By infusing cutting-edge tech into a major cultural asset, Egypt is sending a message: that cultural institutions can – and should – evolve technologically to meet the expectations of modern audiences while safeguarding their legacies.
