Museum · Aswan
Nubian Museum
An Aswan museum telling the story of Nubian civilisation through the ages, in a building inspired by Nubian architecture and set in gardens above the city.
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The story
The museum grew out of the international campaign launched by UNESCO in 1960 to save Nubia's monuments before they were flooded by the High Dam's lake. It opened on 23 November 1997; the building was designed by Egyptian architect Mahmoud El-Hakim, while Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez designed the interior displays. Local sandstone and pink granite clad the structure, echoing the character of a traditional Nubian village. Its galleries present thousands of objects covering Nubia's archaeological, historical, cultural and environmental heritage, from prehistoric times to the Islamic period. The museum received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001.
Good to know
- The museum opened on 23 November 1997, after planning that began in the 1980s.
- It grew out of UNESCO's international campaign to rescue Nubia's monuments, begun in 1960.
- The building was designed by Mahmoud El-Hakim, with the interior displays by Mexico's Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
- The museum won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001.
Visiting tips
Per the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site: listed hours are 9:00 to 17:00, with an evening session from 18:00 to 21:00 on Thursday and Friday, and foreign-visitor tickets are EGP 400 (EGP 200 students). Please check hours and prices before visiting, as they can change.