Imagine seeing Abu Dhabi not through a camera lens, but through someone’s eyes—enhanced by smart glasses that record, analyze, and connect in real time. The emirate is testing AI-powered eyewear with local content creators, offering a pioneering blend of tech, tourism, and storytelling. It's not just about filming—it’s about experiencing, sharing, and transforming the way we see cities.
The sun is setting over the Corniche. Golden light spills over the domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and the air is thick with the scent of oud and sea breeze. But the young woman walking along the promenade isn’t holding up her phone. Instead, she’s murmuring softly: “Record this.”
She’s wearing smart glasses—sleek, tinted, and barely distinguishable from designer shades. But inside, these specs are a marvel of innovation. As her gaze lingers on a dhow floating past, the glasses silently capture high-definition video, analyze the environment, and even offer prompts to enhance her storytelling. This isn’t sci-fi. Welcome to Abu Dhabi’s latest experiment at the intersection of technology and creativity.
In a pilot project launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), selected content creators are testing AI-powered smart glasses that allow them to film and narrate their experiences hands-free. The goal? To showcase the emirate through authentic, first-person perspectives—unedited, unfiltered, and uniquely human.
“We wanted to reimagine how stories about Abu Dhabi are told,” says Hoor Al Qasimi, a creative consultant involved in the project. “With these glasses, creators can capture the raw emotion of a moment—the sound of prayer echoing through a souk, the smile of a camel herder, the sudden swirl of a falcon overhead.”
These glasses are more than just video cameras. Integrated AI suggests content ideas, guides framing, and even translates signage in real time. For creators juggling multiple platforms and audiences, it’s like having a production crew embedded in your eyewear.
Abu Dhabi is betting big on innovation, blending culture, tourism, and tech to position itself as a creative capital of the Middle East. From hosting global film shoots to building world-class museums, the emirate is investing in experiences that are both local and shareable.
And the glasses? They're just the beginning. DCT says this pilot could lead to wider adoption of immersive tech, with future features like live streaming, augmented reality overlays, and real-time audience interaction.
What’s it like to use them? Content creator Samiya Al Shamsi describes it like “having a second brain.” She recently filmed a desert trek with the glasses, capturing everything from wind patterns in the sand to the rhythmic chanting of her Bedouin guide. “It was so freeing not to hold a device. I could just be in the moment—and still share it.”
Feedback from the pilot will shape the next phase of development. And while privacy concerns are part of the conversation, participants say the benefits far outweigh the risks. “It’s about trust and transparency,” says Samiya. “People are curious, not suspicious. They love seeing the city through our eyes.”
The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to attract global talent and investment. As the city becomes more accessible and vividly portrayed through digital storytelling, interest in its lifestyle—and by extension, its real estate—grows. For investors, this means rising demand for short-term rentals, digital nomad hubs, and creative live-work spaces. Neighborhoods like Saadiyat Island and Yas Island stand to benefit most, as they blend leisure, culture, and connectivity. The message is clear: Abu Dhabi isn’t just being seen. It’s being experienced.
