Egypt reopens Amenhotep III tomb after 20 years

Egypt officially reopened the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the Valley of the Kings on Saturday, following more than 20 years of restoration work on one of the necropolis's largest and most significant burial sites.english.news+1
The international restoration project, which took place in three phases between 2001-2004, 2010-2012, and 2023-2024, involved Egyptian, Italian, and Japanese experts focusing on preserving the tomb's exquisite wall paintings that had deteriorated and threatened the structure with collapse.english.news+1
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy unveiled the newly refurbished tomb, which dates back more than 3,500 years to when Amenhotep III ruled ancient Egypt between 1390-1350 BC during a golden age of peace and prosperity.rte+1
The 118-foot-long tomb features a main burial chamber for the king and two chambers for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun, with unique decorations depicting religious scenes of the pharaoh's journey in the afterlife.cbsnews+1
The reopening comes less than a month before the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids is scheduled to open on November 1, as part of Egypt's efforts to attract more visitors and revive its tourism sector, a major source of foreign currency.cbsnews

Egypt has officially reopened one of the Valley of the Kings' largest and most significant tombs to the public after more than two decades of restoration work. The tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt from 1390-1350 BC, welcomed visitors again on Saturday following an extensive international conservation project.english.news+2

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy unveiled the newly restored tomb to reporters, describing it as one of the most important burial sites in the western Valley of the Kings. The tomb, designated WV22, was first discovered in 1799 but had been closed to visitors since the early 2000s due to deteriorating conditions that threatened its structural integrity.rte+2

International Restoration Effort

The restoration project, spanning three distinct phases between 2001-2004, 2010-2012, and 2023-2024, involved a collaboration between Egyptian authorities, Japanese experts from Waseda University, Italian conservators, and UNESCO. The work focused primarily on preserving the tomb's elaborate wall paintings, which are considered among the most exquisite surviving in royal tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty.english.news+2

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the tomb's unique decorations and colored inscriptions depicting religious scenes of the pharaoh's journey in the afterlife. The 85-meter-long tomb features a 118-foot-long, 45-foot-deep passageway leading to three burial chambers – one for Amenhotep III and two for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun.cbsnews+2

Strategic Tourism Push

The tomb's reopening comes as part of Egypt's broader campaign to revive its tourism sector, which contributes 10-15% of the country's GDP and supports one in ten jobs. The timing is particularly strategic, occurring less than one month before the highly anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids on November 1, 2025.tourism-review+2

Egypt has experienced remarkable tourism growth in 2025, with a 23-24% increase in international arrivals since January and tourism revenues reaching $8 billion in the first half of the year. The country aims to attract 30 million tourists annually by 2028 as part of its National Strategy for Tourism Development.tragento+1

The Valley of the Kings currently attracts 4,000-5,000 visitors on weekdays, with the majority visiting the eastern valley where most royal tombs are located. Unlike many other tombs in the complex, Amenhotep III's burial site in the western valley had remained largely inaccessible to the general public, making its reopening particularly significant for cultural tourism in the region.egyptfuntours+2

Sources (46)