Billed as one of the largest live productions ever to have taken place in Egypt, the long-awaited opening ceremony for the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo took place over the weekend. HiLights Group played a central role in the production, delivering the large-scale technical backbone for a show that blended heritage with modern spectacle.
Acting as the main technology provider on behalf of client Media Hub, HiLights managed a wide-ranging scope encompassing lighting design and deployment, large-scale projection mapping, mainstage LED backdrops, laser effects and an impressive drone show coordination. The company worked alongside key partners including Luma Sky for drones, KVANT for lasers, 360° Collective for lighting design and Dirty Monitor for projection mapping content creation.
The production also included a laser and light show above the Pyramids, requiring a wireless signal distribution solution to keep everything synchronised and aligned with the other ceremony elements.
HiLights Group project manager Mohamed Osama oversaw technical integration between departments and alignment with the creative vision. “We executed large-scale projection mapping over 18,000m2 of the museum façade, synchronised with 5,000 drones – one of the largest performances ever staged in Egypt,” said Osama. “The show required millisecond precision to align lasers, lighting, projection and live orchestral music.”
HiLights deployed Absen and Unilumin LED screens, Digital Projection 37K projectors and an extensive lighting package including Claypaky Skylos (deployed for the first-time by the Egyptian company), Ayrton Cobra and Domino LT luminaires, plus Vari-Lite VL3600 and VL10 fixtures. Control was handled via multiple grandMA consoles, with Dataton Watchout media servers driving the projection mapping.
Given its location at the base of the Pyramids, the production faced strict preservation requirements and significant additional security constraints due to the presence of world leaders, creating an additional challenge for the team. “For us, this project proved how technology can celebrate culture rather than distract from it,” noted Osama. “It was an honour to showcase Egypt’s heritage to the world through such a unifying and visually powerful experience.”
Feedback from Media Hub and attending dignitaries was “overwhelmingly positive”, he added, praising the seamless blend of cultural storytelling and advanced technology. The Grand Egyptian Museum opens fully to the public on 4th November 2025.
