Stray dogs rivaling the great Pharaoh; The unexpected attraction of the Egyptian Museum!

According to ISNA; Symbol was too drowsy to open his eyes, let alone interact with a visitor standing above him seeking so-called “human-dog” contact. Sensing an intruder, Symbol opened one eye, looked at the man for a second or two, and then fell asleep again.

In a pleasant winter sun, Sembal was dozing in the vast courtyard of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which has a comforting silence. “Sembel” is one of several stray dogs that in recent weeks, this museum located near the Giza Pyramids in Cairo has made its unexpected home, sharing the space with the treasures of “Tutankhamun” and magnificent statues.

The presence of these dogs, although different, has added another attraction to the thousands of ancient objects that fill the galleries of this billion-dollar museum. The museum opened in November 2025 after years of delay and is now one of the most popular destinations in the country’s tourist itinerary.

In a country with a staggering 10-14 million stray dog ​​population and a record of brutal and often fatal animal abuse, it is remarkable that Symbol and the other dogs in the museum have been met with kindness and care.

The dogs are friendly and calm with humans, fed by museum officials, and receive treats from some of the approximately 15,000 foreign and Egyptian tourists who visit the Grand Egyptian Museum daily.

Meanwhile, one dog named “Mimi” has taken the stage more than others and her videos as she approaches visitors smiling have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. These videos have been popular on the internet overnight.

A Facebook post showed a photo of Mimi curled up on a couch inside the museum with the caption: “Meet this adorable GEM… Mimi steals hearts every day and is looking for a forever home.”

Other photos posted online show the light brown dog standing and looking directly into the camera, or relaxing on a chair at a restaurant inside the museum.

Despite recent reports of attacks by packs of dogs roaming the streets of Egypt’s major cities, including Cairo, the dogs’ popularity indicates a gradual change in the attitude of many Egyptians toward stray animals.

However, Egypt still does not provide ideal conditions for dogs, but a growing number of Egyptians (mostly wealthy but some poor) regularly feed street dogs.

Others have adopted them as pets, claiming that they are smarter, more loyal and more reliable as guards than foreign breeds. Some foreign residents are so fascinated by the local dogs that they adopt them and take them home with them when they leave Egypt.