Egypt has held the official inauguration of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids in a lavish ceremony with dancers and stars wearing colourful and golden pharaonic costumes.

In addition to the dancers, the ceremony featured a large orchestra and opera singers, while drones formed pictures of ancient Egyptian gods above.

The pyramids, in the background, were illuminated with colourful lights, and fireworks were launched over the museum.

"I welcome you to your second home, Egypt, the land of civilisation and history, peace and love," President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi said during the opening ceremony.

"I invite you to make this museum a platform for dialogue, a destination for knowledge and a meeting place for humanity," he added.

Drones also carried banners reading "We

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