The Middle East Cultural Lensathon | Winners Announcement

The first-ever Middle East Cultural Lensathon officially came to an end, with the winners first announced at the Snap Lensathon MENA Celebration: a special online event spotlighting the region’s top Lens Creators organized by iXL Consulting, who also ran a series of in-person events in the region – huge thanks to everyone who joined and supported this amazing Lensathon. 👏

During the event, the Snap AR Team not only announced the winning Lenses but also shared Community showcases, honourable mentions, and explored the future possibilities for Snap AR in MENA.

Watch the full recap of the event here ⤵️

Each of the winning projects stood as a powerful testament to the region’s rich heritage, blending creativity with technology to celebrate culture in new and engaging ways. These Lenses not only highlighted the beauty and diversity of Middle Eastern traditions but also transformed them into interactive experiences that were both educational and entertaining.

By making cultural learning accessible and immersive, they allowed users from around the world to connect with the region’s history and identity in a meaningful way, ensuring that its stories reach audiences far beyond its borders.

Now, without further ado, let’s explore the winning projects, meet the Creators behind them, and see how they reimagined Middle Eastern culture with Lens Studio.

1st Place: Timgad Arch by Islam Ayad

Timgad Arch takes users on a journey into Algeria’s cultural heritage through an interactive Roman puzzle. By tapping scattered pieces, players reconstruct the Arch of Trajan at Timgad, where Roman engineering meets Maghrebi heritage.

Each placement triggers smooth animations and sound effects, gradually unveiling intricate Berber-Roman motifs. Once completed, the Arch appears in 3D alongside a poster with the site’s history, offering an engaging and educational glimpse into this 2,000-year-old UNESCO landmark.

2nd Place: من قصص التراث by رائد لايف الطائف

This playful Lens transforms a short children’s story into an interactive AR experience. Designed to entertain and engage, it invites young users to step into the tale, blending storytelling with fun animations and interactive elements for a magical, hands-on adventure.

Beyond entertainment, the Lens encourages an appreciation for storytelling and cultural imagination, celebrating the power of narratives in shaping cultural experiences.

3rd Place: Heart Of Lebanon by Reem Chalak

Heart of Lebanon is a World AR Effect that celebrates Lebanon’s famous cedar trees. From a symbolic heartquake, the Cedars of God rise as beams of light shine through, while the national anthem plays.

A phoenix, representing the resilience of the Phoenicians, flies through red smoke to form the Lebanese flag, with the cedar standing proudly at the center. This immersive experience allows users to connect with Lebanon’s heritage, celebrating its culture, history, and enduring spirit.

Honorable Mention: Hieroglyphics by Merna ElGohary

This Lens allows users to translate any English word into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, letting them discover how their name would be written in this historic language.

Users can also add a crown and traditional Egyptian eyeliner to take a photo as a Pharaoh, accompanied by ancient Egyptian music. This interactive experience honours Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, offering a fun and immersive way to connect with its history and traditions.

Honorable Mention: Face Jewlery by Abeer Mohammedy

Face Jewelry is inspired by the traditional tattoos of Arab women, featuring three authentic designs created after careful research of regional symbols. The Lens also adds gold jewelry and subtle facial enhancements, blending beauty with cultural expression.

This interactive Snapchat experience showcases the elegance and artistry of Arab women, bringing attention to their heritage and traditional artistry through a modern AR Lens.

Honorable Mention: Phoenician by Georgio Nassar

This Lens allows users to explore the legacy of the ancient Phoenician civilization, which once thrived along the coast of Lebanon. By pointing their camera at any English text, users can see it translated into Phoenician characters, with the original text seamlessly removed using machine learning and OCR technology.

Designed to bring the Phoenician alphabet into the digital age, this interactive experience honors Lebanon’s ancient roots and highlights the enduring influence of its culture on the modern world.

Honorable Mention: Find Altamr! by Haya Ali

Find Altamr! is a fast-paced AR game inspired by the classic cup shuffle, infused with authentic Saudi elements. Players follow the correct finjan to uncover a hidden date fruit, a symbol of hospitality in Saudi culture.

The Lens incorporates traditional Saudi attire, Sadu patterns, and other cultural details, creating an immersive experience that showcases the warmth and traditions of local gatherings.

Honorable Mention: Egypt Echoes by Mohamed Eleryanr

Egypt Echoes invites users to step through an ancient gateway into the heart of Pharaonic Egypt. This immersive AR experience brings the mystique of Ancient Egypt to life through a dynamic 3D portal filled with golden relics, hieroglyphs, and artifacts.

As the Lens opens, a majestic Egyptian-style portal transports users to a world of rituals, powerful deities, and timeless design, with gold-tinted effects and rotating cultural elements creating a rich, educational journey into one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Honorable Mention: Arab Scientists by Alex Creator

This Lens highlights prominent Arab scientists, presenting their names, inventions, and interests in an engaging, interactive AR format. Users can explore and learn through a fun, educational journey that blends technology with knowledge, honoring the contributions of Arab innovators and showcasing their lasting impact on science and culture.

Honorable Mention: Hijin Dash by Reem Ali

Hijin Dash is an interactive AR game inspired by the tradition of camel racing in Saudi Arabia. Players guide a camel through a beautifully rendered desert, weaving between palm trees and rocks while collecting “water” points, symbolizing energy, endurance, and survival in harsh desert conditions.

This immersive experience blends engaging gameplay with meaningful cultural storytelling, highlighting the heritage and traditions of Saudi Arabia.

Honorable Mention: Dual Camera Mirror by Faris Asiri

This dual-camera Lens lets users explore traditional clothing by placing a virtual mirror in front of them, reflecting their faces on the board. The experience combines interactive fun with an engaging way to discover, appreciate, and connect with the rich heritage and beauty of cultural attire.

Honorable Mention: Portrait of Newroz by Haval Mustafa

This Lens honors Kurdish heritage through a portrait-style experience set at the historic Erbil Citadel during Newroz festivities. Using the Face Swap feature, users can see their faces transformed into a traditional Kurdish look.
The experience offers an elegant and engaging way to explore and connect with the rich traditions of Kurdish culture.

Honorable Mention: Colors of Home by Wissem Ridjaline

Colors of Home is an immersive AR experience that brings Algeria’s rich cultural heritage to life. Users explore a 360-degree environment featuring traditional clothing, iconic dishes, and historic architecture, all inspired by real Algerian cities. Animated visuals and carefully crafted 3D assets create a vibrant, engaging tribute to the beauty, unity, and diversity of Algerian culture.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and a huge thank you to everyone who submitted their Lenses—Your talent didn’t go unnoticed! 👏

The Middle East Cultural Lensathon showed the incredible creativity and innovation of the AR community, proving just how powerful AR can be in sharing stories, culture, and imagination with the world.

Through AR Challenges like this one, we aim to inspire and empower creators to push the boundaries of what’s possible in augmented reality, and we can’t wait to see how your ideas continue shaping the future of AR experiences.

⭐ Read more about how Culture and AR intertwine in our latest article.