Tourist Destinations in Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Watan (Presidential Palace)
Qasr Al Watan is an incredible, new and unique landmark in the United Arab Emirates. A Palace brimming with knowledge, offering the world a first-of-its-kind insight into the Arab heritage and the governing principles that shaped the history of the United Arab Emirates and its vision to the future.
Qasr Al Watan is more than just a palace, it is an enriching journey in a contemporary setting that reveals and reflects on governance, knowledge and craftsmanship.
The Palace offers you a unique opportunity to marvel at majestic hallways that is sure to leave you with a meaningful experience, explore exhibitions that celebrate the region’s rich Arabic heritage and learn more about the rulers and governing institutions that shaped our great nation. You will also gain a deeper appreciation of the innovations that will drive the country’s future.
Directions from Dubai to Presidential Palace (1Hours 22 minutes drive)
From Dubai on the E11 Highway (Sheikh Zayed Road):
Take Sheikh Zayed Road south, heading towards Abu Dhabi
Follow E11 and Abu Dhabi – Keep left at the fork to continue on Abu Dhabi – Al Shahama Rd/Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan St/E10
Take the exit toward Abu Dhabi – Al Falah Rd/Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hwy/E12
Keep left and merge onto Abu Dhabi – Al Falah Rd/Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hwy/E12
Turn right onto Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hwy, then merge onto 1st St
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit, turn right, then turn right until you reach your destination.
Qasr Al Watan is now open 7 days a week from 10:00am – 8:00pm.
There are ample parking spaces available and there is no charge to park here.
Valet parking: Yes, valet parking is available at the Visitor Centre car park at a charge of AED 80. It is available from 9:30am to 9:30pm, 7 days a week.
Visitors must find their own transport to/from Qasr Al Watan.
Tickets can be purchased online or on-site directly at the ticketing booth. Please see the Tickets section of the website for more information.
You will receive your ticket(s) via email. You can print these out and bring them with you or you can download the ticket(s) onto your phone. You will need to show this to gain entry into the Palace or its grounds.
You can upgrade your ticket for a small fee once you are inside the Park. Make your way to the Palace entrance to upgrade your ticket at the ticket counter:
Adults: Dh35
Children (under 17): Dh17.50
Guided Tour: Yes, there are tours every day for individuals and groups.
People of determination: Qasr Al Watan provides wheelchairs for people of determination and elderly visitors. People of determination receive complimentary access plus one companion.
Prayer room: There are prayer rooms available for both men and women at the Visitor Centre and the Ceremonial Gate.
Wi-Fi: There is no Wi-Fi available throughout the Palace grounds.
Photography:Yes, non-commercial photography and filming are encouraged.
Mobile phones: Yes, in consideration for other visitors, mobile phones must be switched to silent.
Food and Drink: Food and beverages are available for purchase from 5 locations. Only food and beverages that have been purchased on site are allowed to be consumed (except water and baby food). Please see the Visitor Information section of the website for more information.
Smoking: Yes, a designated smoking area is located outside the Visitor Centre.
Pets: Pets or animals are not allowed in the Palace or the Palace grounds.
For assistance, you can call our Contact Centre on (+971) 600 544 442 or email contact@qasralwatan.ae. The opening hours for the Contact Centre are 8:00am to 8:00pm, 7 days a week.
Here’s the best things to see
Qasr Al Watan is no mere tourist attraction, it’s a working Palace, home to the UAE Supreme Council and Federal Cabinet. It hosts state visits and official summits and is steeped in the nation’s history and culture. It’s the perfect place to learn more about the UAE’s rich heritage.
So what can visitors expect when they cross the threshold of this white edifice for the first time? Here are some of must-see sights for guests to enjoy and all are contained within the Qasr Al Watan site:
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Qasr Al Watan is a contemporary palace built in traditional Arabian style. It features a high level of artistry and craftsmanship in its features, in a tribute to the region’s Arabian heritage. Such an ornate level of detailing does not come quickly.
The facade of the Palace is constructed from granite and limestone built to last hundreds of years. Its white colouring was chosen to symbolise peace and purity while reflecting Gulf traditions of light-coloured buildings to reflect heat.
Each of the Palace doors took 350 hours to make and is constructed from solid maple, with hard-carved designs detailed in 23-carat gold.
More than 5,000 geometric and floral patterns adorn palace surfaces, each of them unique to Qasr Al Watan, while inspired by traditional Arab iconography.
THE GREAT HALL
The star of the show is undoubtedly the Great Hall, the architectural heart of Qasr Al Watan. Measuring 100 metres long by 100 metres wide, its main dome is one of the largest in the world, with a diameter of 37 metres. It houses four art installations, mirrored cubes that reflect the room’s intricate design detailing.
THE BARZA
The ‘Al Barza’ majlis is the largest room in Qasr Al Watan after The Great Hall, and can hold up to 300 guests. A majlis is used to formally welcome guests in the Emirati tradition that ensures leaders govern with the consensus of their people. Don’t miss the 5-minute multimedia show on the history of the majlis and the UAE.
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION HALL
The ‘Spirit of Collaboration’ room was designed to host meetings of the Federal Supreme Council, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Here you can gain a deeper appreciation of the UAE’s rulers and governing traditions that shaped the Emirates.
HOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE
The ‘House of Knowledge’ is located in the east wing, where you can explore the palace’s vast selection of rare artefacts and manuscripts. They have been curated to document the Arab world’s contributions to various fields including science, arts, humanities and literature. In honour of the 2019 UAE Year of Tolerance, three holy books – the Holy Quran, the Holy Bible and the book of David’s Psalms are displayed together as a symbol of peaceful co-existence.
PRESIDENTIAL GIFTS
This room showcases part of the collection of diplomatic gifts the UAE has received from foreign dignitaries during state visits. Don’t miss the carpets from Turkmenistan, an ornate sword and shield from Kazakhstan, among others.
BANQUET HALL
The ‘Presidential Banquet’ hall hosts official occasions extending Emirati hospitality to representatives of close nations and allies. It contains 149,000 pieces of silver, crystal and china that were made especially for the palace.
THE LIBRARY
The ‘Qasr Al Watan Library’ houses an impressive collection of more than 40,000 titles, documenting the nation’s history, focusing on archaeology, history, culture, literature and the arts. A digital collection of more than 16 million items is also available. Visitors can access the library free of charge through a separate entrance upon registration at the Visitor Centre.
LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW
If you are able to time your visit to be there at 7:30pm, you will have the opportunity to experience ‘Palace in Motion’, a spectacular 15-minute exposition. Light and sound is projected onto the palace, telling the story of Qasr Al Watan in three acts, while explaining the past, present and future of the UAE.
DINING OPTIONS
There is an array of dining options for all tastes and budgets. ‘Dhiyafat Qasr Al Watan’ and ‘Al Fowala’ are sit-down restaurants in the main Palace area. If you’d prefer a cafe, try ‘Maqha Al Maktaba’ inside the library. For a simple option, ‘Legma’ is the grab-and-go outlet located in the visitor centre, Zayed Gate and the main palace.
FANCY A SOUVENIR?
There are two gift shops – one in the Visitor Centre and one in the main Palace, selling uniquely crafted gifts and souvenirs inspired by Qasr Al Watan.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Feel free to snap personal photos and videos and upload to social media. You can tag your posts with @QasrAlWatanTour and #QasrAlWatanTour on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Please switch mobile phones to silent while visiting Qasr Al Watan.
OPENING HOURS
Qasr Al Watan is open seven days a week from 10am-8pm. Tickets are available on arrival, or online from the official Qasr Al Watan website.
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It’s the first Louvre museum to open outside Paris. And all that history and art is right here in Abu Dhabi. The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened on November 11, 2017 and is a universal museum that is home to some of the most beautiful art in the world. The eye catching building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, who designed it in the shape of a shallow dome; a combination of modern architecture and the regions traditions.
Emirates National Auto Museum
First Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi
The temple is said to be a replica of the Akshardham temple in Delhi and another BAPS temple in New Jersey.
With seven spires that represent the UAE’s seven emirates and five ornate domes, the temple sports every feature of a traditional Indian temple; it was built according to the ancient Hindu shilpashastras (Sanskrit scriptures of architecture).
Every corner and crevice made of pink stones from Rajasthan and marble from Macedonia are supposedly hand-carved by Indian artisans. These pieces of the temple were shipped to the UAE and assembled there.
Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple boasts a cultural and spiritual centre with six to seven prayer rooms, play areas for children, lush gardens, vegetarian food courts, a library, gift store, exhibition halls, a visitor’s centre and more.