This New App Lets You Visit Egypt’s Most Iconic Sites in Virtual Reality

The brainchild of Egyptian startups, Egypt VR and [34]ML, Around Egypt is an innovative new app that lets users explore both the most iconic and the lesser known sites across the country in high resolution virtual reality. Having started work on the platform in 2018, and releasing a beta late 2019, the final version is now available to download on both iOS and Android, as well as the Oculus store for those who take virtual reality seriously.  

Showcasing over 30 virtual tours of sites across 11 governorates, the app includes everything from natural reserves like the Rainbow Canyon in Sinai to the Hanging Church in Cairo. “We came up with the concept in collaboration with Egypt VR, after our two companies worked on a project for Mori Co. that involved creating virtual tours for the company’s restaurant locations,” Ahmed Saafan, Business Lead at [34]ML tells StartupScene.

The virtual tours were developed over a seven year period by Egypt VR, and aim to cover all the facets in Egypt’s diverse civilizational history. Sites from Fatimid Egypt, ancient Egypt, the Byzantine era, and even post-colonial Egypt are included— not to mention diverse natural landscapes from across the country. “Users can know what to expect from any site they visit in Egypt before physically going. It can help to entice people to visit these locations, especially tourists who are interested in coming to Egypt," Saafan continues.