Egypt begins reassembling ancient pharaoh's boat at new museum

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said the assembly follows years of preservation, documentation and 3D scanning of the fragments, stressing its global heritage significance.

The boat, dating back some 4,500 years, was discovered in pieces near the Great Pyramid, the tomb of King Khufu, in 1954. It consists of about 1,650 wooden fragments and measures roughly 42 meters in length.

"Khufu's first solar boat was found almost complete, but the second boat, which is a bit smaller, was found in a very poor condition," said GEM's CEO Ahmed Ghoneim.

"Restoration in front of visitors is a dimension you cannot find in museums around the world," Ghoneim said, highlighting its unique educational experience.

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The restoration team work on the restoration project for the ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. Egypt on Tuesday began reassembling ancient King Khufu's second solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, a restoration process expected to take about four years and open for visitors to watch live. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)