To revolutionize Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) partnered with ARtGlass and NOUS Digital to launch the Middle East’s first wearable Extended Reality (XR) tour in November 2023. The experiences thrills visitors from around the world to the ancient archaeological site of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.

The groundbreaking 2-hour Living Museum tour transports tourists back in time to the heart of a thriving Nabataean civilization. The tour reveals mysteries of this once-mighty cosmopolitan civilization, a contemporary of the ancient Roman, Greek, and Egyptian empires, and master of international trade routes.

Practically undisturbed for 2,000 years, Hegra boasts 111 monumental tombs and massive ceremonial spaces carved into solid rock. The immersive touring experience combines 3D and 360-degree visuals with compelling audio, enabling visitors to explore the stunning landscape overlaid with interactive digital “magic.” With transparent lenses seamlessly blending the real and virtual worlds, visitors can simultaneously enjoy the natural beauty of Hegra while being immersed in new layers of its storied history.

Visitors gain virtual access to otherwise restricted areas, brought to life through holograms of historic figures, digitally repositioned artifacts, and interactive stories. ARtGlass technologies advance sustainable tourism principles by engaging visitors in profound ways while avoiding physical harm to a site’s sensitive features.