I started my journey as a local guide, at my hometown ‘Alexandria’. After the Egyptian Revolution in 2011, the city was in complete flux and real estate mafias dominated the scene; many heritage buildings were demolished to make way for new high-rise buildings. Hence, we felt the responsibility to document listed heritage buildings across the city. We used Google Maps to map, document and share those buildings with the public. We also launched a local initiative ‘Save Alex’ that rapidly gained momentum and influenced other cities in Egypt to do the same. At the point, Google was our main tool not only as a mean of documentation but also as hub to publicize the cause to conserve the collective memory of an old city.
In 2015, I moved to Dubai, to start a new chapter of my life. As any new comer, I was exploring the city through Google Maps, and I was thrilled by the enormous contributions of local guides. Being in such a digital city was enough incentive to participate and share - in Dubai we share for joy, fun and pleasure. In contrast, I started to focus on spotting hidden gems, startups and cultural spaces in Dubai - I just feel happy when I bring some of these places to the surface and observe the traffic grows.
Meanwhile, during weekends, holidays, staycations or travel, as I am observing, experiencing and enjoying, I just feel happy to document yet share my experiences with others. Everywhere I go, I search for places, services or any stuff in Google Maps, and I always find my needs throughout the contributions of Google local guides - they’re the real heroes who bring it in and bring it all.