FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, is the leading global organisation that sets standards for best practices and international construction contracts in the engineering and construction industry worldwide.
A great recognition
During the extended duration of the project, a great amount of variations and several claims were issued because of multiple reasons, including design changes and events like Covid-19 and the war in Gaza and Ukraine, among others. Despite this, the objectives of all parties were always aligned and all variations and claims were successfully closed. This was appreciated by FIDIC and is why it gave the Grand Egyptian Museum the award.
Joris De Kinder, Resident Manager Egypt of BESIX: By being creative and combining different contract clauses and by gaining the respect and trust of the Client and the Engineer, we always managed to alignthe objectives of all parties, as well as to discuss and agree each time an amicable closing of all variations and claims without ending up in arbitration or in court. That is what FIDIC appreciated in our application and why they gave the project this award.
This recognition is the first of its kind for an Egyptian project and for a BESIX project, highlighting the successful management and execution of FIDIC contracts on the GEM project. It also acknowledges the operational excellence of BESIX and Orascom Construction, in collaboration with the project's Client, the Ministry of State for Tourism and Antiquities and the Supreme Council for Antiquities, as well as the Engineer, Hill International/EHAF JV.
The GEM stands as one of the largest archaeological museums and cultural hubs in the world, showcasing more than thousands of precious Egyptian ancient artefacts. The project is built on an area of 500,000 m², situated near the Giza Plateau overlooking the last remaining ancient wonder of the world: the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Soft opening in October 2024
This achievement follows GEM’s recent soft opening in October 2024, which welcomed visitors to notable attractions, including the first suspended obelisk, the iconic statue of Ramses II, the Children’s Museum, the main galleries, and a vibrant commercial area with restaurants, cafes, and shops featuring Egyptian brands.
The GEM continues to strengthen its position as a key cultural and heritage landmark, and we look forward to further achievements on its journey.
