Preparations are underway for the transfer and display of the 3000-old Ramses II statue, one of Egypt's most famous pharaohs, at the main entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

In an effort to save it from exhaust fumes and other environmental hazards, the 11.35-meter-long statue, weighing about 83 tons, was moved from Ramses Square to its new home at the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2006. It was the first of 150,000 artifacts that were transferred to the new location.

The giant statue will be the first to be seen by tourists when entering the grand museum to be partially open in April. 

The Arab Contractors Company will be responsible for the transfer of the statue, that was approved by the Egyptian cabinet yesterday, from the spot where it was first moved to inside the museum to the main entrance.

Ramses II took the throne in his early 20s and ruled Egypt for 60 years more than 3,000 years ago. 

In 1888, the statue was found in Meet Rahina near Memphis in southwestern Cairo. It was broken in six pieces and earlier attempts at restoration failed. In 1954, the Egyptian revolutionary council moved the statue to the large Bab Al Hadid square in Cairo that was then renamed Ramses Square.

The statue was restored to its full height of 11.35 meters and erected on a three meter pedestal at the edge of a fountain. It was stabilized by iron bars inside the body.