The initiative, announced in Riyadh during the Cultural Investment Conference, introduces an “Explore Historic Jeddah” platform featuring over 10 digitised landmark sites, more than 15 km of external 360° Street View imagery, and AI-driven guided narratives tailored to each route. The offering also includes a virtual “Pocket Gallery” to juxtapose archival photos against present-day restoration efforts.
Abdulaziz Alissa, Director General of Jeddah Historic District, described the project as a “qualitative leap” in opening the city’s heritage to a global audience, citing alignment with Vision 2030 ambitions to position culture and heritage as engines of national development. Amit Sood, Director & Founder of Google Arts & Culture, called it the first major Saudi cultural collaboration and emphasised how AI could “bring life” to heritage narratives worldwide.
The platform allows users to navigate past the façades of Bayt Jokhdar, Bayt Nassif, Al-Shafi’i Mosque and other emblematic structures, enriched with contextual storytelling on architectural forms, artisanal practices, and Jeddah’s role in historic trade and pilgrimage. The AI “Talking Tours” respond to user progress along virtual streets, offering commentary attuned to location and user interest.
Digitisation work reportedly required close collaboration with Saudi heritage authorities to preserve authenticity in visual capture and narrative framing, and to ensure that local sensitivities are respected. The initiative follows recent years of intensive restoration in Al-Balad, where some 650 buildings are being rehabilitated as part of broader cultural tourism investment. That restoration drive has helped fuel renewed visitor interest, especially since the city hosted a Formula One Grand Prix that drew tourists to explore the old quarter.
The newly formed Al Balad Development Company, launched by the Public Investment Fund in late 2023, is playing a central role in transforming the district into a cultural tourism hub. It has overseen the restoration of heritage houses such as Jokhdar, Kedwan and Al-Rayyis, some slated to become boutique heritage hotels.
Analysts see the Google collaboration as both a symbolic and strategic moment. Symbolic in signalling Saudi Arabia’s openness to blending digital innovation with culture; strategic because it positions Google as a platform partner in the Kingdom’s heritage economy. In a region where cultural tourism is emerging as a diversification lever, control of digital heritage channels may become a competitive edge.
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