Zahi Hawass: “Virtual Reality (VR) Brings Ancient Egypt Back to Life”

Under the sharp midday sun at the Giza Pyramids, a tourist from South Africa slowed his steps between the pyramids, still absorbing what he had just seen. Minutes earlier, he had removed a virtual reality headset after experiencing two immersive journeys, one recreating how the pyramids were built, the other guiding him through mummification rituals in the Pharaonic era. “I felt like I stepped back into ancient Egypt,” he said, gesturing toward the monuments that had suddenly taken on new meaning.

The growing use of virtual reality at Egypt’s archaeological sites and museums is reshaping how visitors engage with ancient history. At the pyramids, VR experiences allow tourists to witness the construction process itself, stone blocks being carved and lifted, tools clashing, and engineers and sculptors working in unison. Rather than observing the monuments solely in their present state, visitors are invited to imagine them in motion, during their making.

Renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass believes such technology can enhance understanding when used carefully. He says virtual reality provides historical information in a way that is both engaging and accessible, adding excitement to the visitor experience. According to Hawass, VR has the potential to “bring life back” to major heritage sites such as Abu Simbel and to iconic figures like Ramses II and Tutankhamun, allowing tourists to visualise Pharaonic Egypt as a living civilisation.

At the pyramids, the experience focuses on explaining how the structures were built, placing visitors at the heart of the process. Through sound, movement, and reconstructed visuals, VR attempts to restore context that time has erased.

However, the introduction of VR at open archaeological sites has sparked debate among tourism professionals. Amr Ezzat, a licensed tour guide, acknowledges that virtual reality helps visitors imagine history more vividly and feel as though they are sharing the same moments as people of the past. Yet he cautions against relying on it too heavily at places like the pyramids. “In museums, VR works very well,” he says. “But the pyramids themselves are already a real, live experience.”

Ezzat argues that for many visitors, the pyramids are not just one attraction among many, but the primary reason for travelling to Egypt. For that reason, he believes the monuments should remain the central focus of the visit, with technology playing a supporting role.

A similar view is expressed by tour guide Arkan El-Zeidy, who stresses that virtual reality cannot replace the sensory impact of seeing an archaeological site in person. He compares the experience to watching a film on a television screen versus in a cinema. “Reality has its own atmosphere,” he says. “Each experience has its value, but they are not the same.”

As Egypt continues to modernise its tourism sector, virtual reality is emerging as both an educational tool and a new form of storytelling. When carefully integrated, it can revive ancient narratives and deepen understanding without altering the physical integrity of heritage sites.

For now, visitors to the Giza Pyramids move between two worlds, one carved in stone thousands of years ago, and another reconstructed through digital technology, each offering a different way to encounter Egypt’s enduring legacy.