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The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has launched an exciting new hot air balloon experience in the Metaverse, offering visitors a bird’s eye view of the Hegra UNESCO World Heritage Site. This innovative and immersive digital recreation of Hegra’s Tomb of Lihyan allows online travellers to explore AlUla’s most famous monument inside and out, from anywhere in the world.

Accessible via Decentraland, the hot air balloon experience allows visitors to soar above Hegra, offering incredible and ultra-realistic views of the iconic landmark. The experience combines all the thrills of soaring into the skies above the digital desert with unique experiences designed to boost playability and raise excitement levels.

Created in collaboration with renowned global creative consultancy frog, the virtual Hegra offers expanded access to digital tourists, who can explore its unique features from anywhere in the world. In addition, RCU is providing a limited number of balloon riders a chance to receive an NFT wearable which will unlock future experiences on the metaverse.

Royal Commission for AlUla and Hegra in the Metaverse (PRNewsfoto/Royal Commission for AlUla)

The interactive hot air balloon experience follows RCU’s Metaverse debut, which invited visitors to discover and explore a to-scale and completely immersive 3D model of Hegra’s Tomb of Lihyan, Son of Kuza – the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the exciting, and globally accessible, digital realm.

Hegra in the Metaverse marks a major step forward in RCU’s journey of innovation – a sprint into the future of experiential tourism that ensures AlUla is ready to welcome visitors in a rapidly emerging digital future. As RCU’s presence in the Metaverse evolves, Hegra will play host to an eclectic calendar of events created to digitally introduce the world to the wonders of AlUla, making the rich culture, heritage, and traditions of north-west Arabia more accessible to more people than ever before.

UNESCO designated Hegra as KSA’s first World Heritage Site in 2008. Located 20km north of AlUla town, the site covers 52 hectares and features 110 tombs amid stunning rock formations, with the Tomb of Lihyan, Son of Kuza the largest tomb at 22 metres tall. Referred to as the ‘lonely castle’ because of its distance from other monuments, it is the largest preserved site of the ancient Nabataean civilization south of Petra in Jordan.

RCU’s debut in the Metaverse is the first step on a journey of discovery that will ultimately reveal new and exciting worlds to help expand and enhance AlUla’s connection with a new generation of technology-led global audiences. Ahmed H Daoud, Acting Executive Director of Innovation at RCU, said, “The addition of a new hot air balloon experience means Metaverse tourists can observe Hegra in new dimensions, giving digital explorers access to one of the world’s most treasured landmarks in ways that expand what is possible in real life.”

In conclusion, the Royal Commission for AlUla has launched an interactive hot air balloon experience in the Metaverse, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore Hegra UNESCO World Heritage Site from a bird’s eye view. The experience provides an immersive and ultra-realistic view of the iconic landmark, making the rich culture, heritage, and traditions of northwest Arabia more accessible to more people than ever before. As RCU’s presence in the Metaverse evolves, Hegra will play host to an eclectic calendar of events created to digitally introduce the world to the wonders of AlUla, propelling innovation and embracing the latest advances in technology.

Visitors to the metaverse can explore Hegra here: https://play.decentraland.org/?position=-121%2C-149&realm=marvel&island=Ickzn.