As museums and art galleries across the United Arab Emirates have been exploring new and improved ways of transcending physical boundaries and opening up to a wider audience, Qasr Al Hosn Cultural Foundation has created an engaging virtual platform that will offer visitors from around the world a view of Abu Dhabi’s cultural birthplace.

The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi has launched an online program in collaboration with the Department of Education and Knowledge to take 160 students on their first virtual tour of the site over a Zoom meeting.

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The guided tour program includes a 360-degree virtual reality simulation, where visitors can interact with professional tour guides as they are led through the exhibition. The initiative is currently offering tours of the Red Palace, an art exhibition featuring works by Saudi artist Sultan Bin Fahad. You can also view the Common Ground, a group exhibition that reflects on cultural values shared between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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“With our recorded and virtual tours, students and lifelong learners from across the Emirate are able to access the unparalleled stories and treasures found in Qasr Al Hosn, our most significant landmark,” Salama Al Shamsi, Director of Qasr Al Hosn, said in a statement, according to DTC Abu Dhabi. The pre-recorded tours are available in Arabic, English, French, Urdu and Malayalam.

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In addition to Qasr Al Hosn, the UAE’s most iconic cultural landmark, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, has also launched virtual tours for people from around the world to engage with local culture from the comfort of their homes.

Cover image credit: @ahmedalmal