In brief
At the 2026 Algiers International Book Fair, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs used virtual reality to provide visitors with an immersive tour of Mecca and Medina, alongside a suite of digital resources such as an electronic Quran and prayer timing tools.
The 2026 Algiers International Book Fair saw a remarkable fusion of technology and faith when the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs unveiled a virtual reality experience at its booth, allowing visitors to explore the holy sites of Mecca and Medina without leaving the exhibition hall. Spanning the fair’s duration from October 28 to November 7, the ministry’s display enabled attendees to immerse themselves in 3‑D recreations of the Masjid al‑Haram and the Prophet’s Mosque, offering a live‑like view of the sacred spaces through a headset that matched the scale and atmosphere of the physical holy places.
Held in the Palais des Expositions in Sidi M'Hamed, the booth attracted a diverse crowd of scholars, tourists, and fairgoers, all drawn by the promise of a technologically advanced insight into Islamic heritage. Saudi Press Agency reported that the fair’s ninth edition, which drew international participants from around the world, presented a unique platform for cultural outreach, showcasing new digital services that support worship and learning.
The virtual reality segment was complemented by interactive displays featuring the aforementioned 3‑D pilgrimage simulation. Visitors could navigate the pathways of the Hajj pilgrimage, observing how pilgrims perform rituals in the tradition of centuries‑old practices. The simulation, available in several languages, included triggers that guided users through each wudu step, tawaf, and sujud, thereby providing both educational and sensory experiences of the holy journey.
Alongside the immersive VR endeavor, the Ministry’s booth also showcased an array of digital applications developed by the Saudi ministry. These include Rashd, an electronic version of the Quran available online, alongside a prayer‑time calculator that uses the local time of ‘Umarqī (the city of 'Umarqī) to announce the start and end of each required Salah. Another app featured enables users to determine the direction of the qibla, the geographic orientation toward Mecca, while a citation tool offers correct grammatical derivations for scholars wishing to reference Quranic verses accurately.
In addition to the digital tools, the booth highlighted the completed series of publications from the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an. Visitors could view the stages of printing the holy book, seeing the meticulous process from typesetting to binding, reminding them of the technical mastery required to preserve a text considered by Muslims to be an exact word of God. Manuscripts from the Mecca Library were also on display, lending a tangible sense of the lost and recovered texts preserved in the city’s oldest libraries.
The initiative to bring virtual reality to an international book fair aligns with the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance’s strategic goal to utilize modern technology for religious education and cultural outreach. By converting complex spiritual concepts into digestible visual narratives, the Ministry aims to enhance global engagement and deepen visitors’ understanding of Islam’s spiritual dimensions. The VR experience also emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting a moderate view of Islam, as stated by officials during the fair.
The impact of the Saudi Ministry’s booth was felt not only in the numbers of visitors who attempted the VR headset, but also in the discussions sparked about digital literacy among younger Muslim audiences. Visitors shared their experiences on social media platforms, sparking conversations about how 3‑D environments can change the way people approach religious practice and education. The Ministry’s initiative was praised as a forward‑thinking model that could be replicated at other international cultural events.
In conclusion, the 2026 Algiers International Book Fair offered a landmark demonstration of how virtual reality can transform the presentation of religious heritage. The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ presence showcased a holistic approach that blended historical manuscripts, modern digital tools, and immersive technology, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role in promoting an informed, accessible, and balanced understanding of Islam globally.
