Exploring Jeddah's Cultural Heritage: AI-Powered Digital Tours by Google Arts & Culture
Jeddah Historic District has collaborated with Google Arts & Culture to introduce Saudi Arabia's first AI-powered digital tours, offering virtual experiences of the city's cultural heritage. The initiative, announced during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh, aims to digitally map and showcase Jeddah's historical landmarks using artificial intelligence, providing virtual experiences accessible to audiences worldwide. This project aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals to utilize advanced technologies in cultural preservation and tourism, while emphasizing Google's role in Saudi Arabia's digital transformation. Charbel Sarkis, Google Saudi Arabia's country director, highlighted the significance of Google Arts & Culture in providing the necessary digital infrastructure and distribution network for the cultural sector to thrive and remain relevant in the future.
The Explore Historic Jeddah platform, a result of this collaboration, offers an immersive digital experience that brings the city's cultural legacy to life. It features over 30 stories detailing Jeddah's historical significance, restoration projects, and UNESCO World Heritage site designation. Users can explore more than 15 Street View captures of key landmarks, access over 10 AI-powered walking tours, and engage with interactive features like the Virtual Pocket Gallery showcasing archival photos and regeneration efforts. Through the Google Arts & Culture platform, this collaboration aims to provide free digital infrastructure and advanced digitization tools to preserve and showcase Jeddah's cultural assets, contributing to the Kingdom's digital transformation under Vision 2030.
The Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh highlighted Saudi Arabia's growing cultural economy, positioning culture as a driver of growth and national pride under Vision 2030. Global leaders, investors, and creatives gathered to discuss the significance of cultural investment in the Kingdom. Tarak Ben Ammar, chairman of Eagle Pictures, emphasized the historical moment of the conference and the rapid transformation of the cultural sector in Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the country's young population, the introduction of cinemas, and the opportunities for global partnerships in the film industry. Andreas Gorgen, former Secretary General of Germany's Federal Ministry of Culture and Media, emphasized the importance of developing a unique cultural model for Saudi Arabia and investing in cultural infrastructure to promote social cohesion.
Princess Nourah Al-Faisal, founder of Adhlal and Nuun Jewels, underscored the government's support for the creative economy and the importance of collaboration in preparing students for careers in the cultural sector. Sultan Ghaznawi, chairman and managing director of Scene Holding, highlighted the private sector's role in growing the cultural sphere in the Kingdom and its potential to attract global events. Lor Albrighi, co-CEO and founder of SPIN, emphasized the role of technology in cultural transformation and the importance of building digital infrastructure to connect the physical and digital worlds. The Cultural Investment Conference showcased Saudi Arabia's evolving cultural landscape and its potential to transform creativity into a thriving business sector.
China's Ori Group announced the opening of its regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, investing over SR2 billion ($540 million) to support the growth of the Kingdom's cultural and creative sectors. The move aligns with Vision 2030's goals to diversify the economy and build a sustainable cultural ecosystem. The Riyadh hub will focus on film, education, fashion, tourism, and cultural events, aiming to deliver innovative content, develop educational programs, and strengthen the Kingdom's creative industries. By attracting global expertise and capital, initiatives like Ori Group's regional hub aim to energize the Kingdom's creative industries and create new investment opportunities in cultural production, education, and entertainment.
The Saudi Film Fund, now rebranded as Riviera Content, announced two new film investments valued at more than SR32.5 million ($8.7 million) during the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 in Riyadh. These investments involve collaborations with major international studios, including Universal Studios and Columbia Pictures, highlighting Saudi Arabia's growing stature as a global hub for film production and an attractive destination for international investment in the creative industries. The Cultural Development Fund remains a principal investor in Riviera Content, dedicated to financing and producing high-quality film projects locally and internationally in partnership with major global studios. This initiative underscores the fund's role as a financial enabler for the cultural sector, supporting sustainable growth and economic diversification in line with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.