OVERVIEW:
Qasr Al Ain or Al Ain Palace is one of the most well-restored castles in Abu Dhabi. and an important historical site in the UAE. It was the home of the Founding Father of the UAE and the country’s first President, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who lived here with his family until 1966, when the family later moved to Abu Dhabi.
Inside the museum, the palace and private residence provide an insight into the life and culture of the ruling family and community until the world changes after the discovery of petrol. Bedouin-style buildings (Bedouins by nomadic Arabs from the region) date back to 1937, with the building converted into a museum in 1998 as a cultural and tourist key. The museum opened to its guests in 2001 and continues to celebrate the rich history of the UAE, preserving its future and future links.
The diversity of modern building materials and the traditional influences of the Emirate can be seen throughout the property. A museum building is a combination of courtyards that combine formal and private buildings into a single building. Each of these areas was constructed and renovated using locally available and environmentally friendly materials including clay, adobe and plaster stones, as well as palm roofing materials, interior ceilings, doors and windows. The most visited part of the museum is a room dedicated to teaching the residents of the Holy Quran, which contains a hadith, containing the teachings and words of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him), written on the roof.
The Al Ain Palace Museum is an important site, once home to the founding father and first president of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zared bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zared lived here with his family until 1966, later moving to Abu Dhabi. Inside the museum, the palace and a private residence built in 1937, provide insight into the lives and cultures of the ruling family and community until the transformation after the discovery of petrol. As you explore Al Ain Palace Museum, we invite you to chat, draw, and write in this guide and we hope you will find that the closer you look, the more you get!
This work guide is designed for visitors of all ages to use while discovering the Al Ain Palace Museum, especially for visitors 7 to 12 years of age. Touch things with your eyes only, never with your hands Go to the mirrors – do not run Use a quiet voice when sharing your ideas Write and draw only with pencils — not pens or markers please Change your phone silently Drinks or food.
FAMILY TREE:
A family tree is a visual diagram showing a list of your family members, to learn more about past generations of your family. You will find in the palace a family tree depicting the origins of the Al Nahyan family, which belonged to the Bani Yas tribe from 1633 CE.
PALACE COURTYARD AND FAMILY HOME:
The palace for both was the private residence of Sheikh Zayed and his family, as well as a public courtyard for the reception of guests and guests. Inside the private rooms of the Palace, the basement rooms where Her Highness Sheikh Fatima bint e Mubarak receive female guests. The first floor housed private dormitories for Sheikh Zayed’s sons. Sheikh Zayed’s former room is described in its simplicity and contains the great needs of the Sheikh during his stay there.
MAJLIS:
There are many majlis, or residences, in the public and private parts of the Royal Household. Sheikh Zayed is often welcomed by his local community members, tribal leaders, and foreign guests from across Abu Dhabi, which is why one majlis incorporates western style furniture.
TRADITIONAL TENT:
An important feature of the Palace is the large tent, which was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s favorite place of hospitality. Although the modern tent is now in its place, the tent remembers the rich Bedouin traditions. Tents are traditionally made of camel’s hair, and are sometimes called Bait Al Shi’ir. Poems were often read and enjoyed during such gatherings in such tents.
GAHWA:
To make traditional gahwa (Arabic coffee), roasted and ground coffee beans are placed in a pot of boiling water. When guests arrived, brewed coffee would be poured into a small pot and spices such as calcium, saffron, or rose water were added to enhance their flavor and aroma. The coffee is then poured into a feeder known as dellah, and held in the right hand of the servers. Coffee is served to seated guests who start on the right side of the room and head to the left. The coffee is brewed in a small cup known as finjan, filled in half, allowing the coffee to cool down quickly.
PATTERN COOLING:
The traditional method of using wide and long verandas helped to cool the air outside the rooms of the Palace, and protected them from the strong sun. Verandas have an open walkway or a canopy. What building details and patterns can you find in the palace? Take a good look at the small windows on the walls of the Palace; patterns for building both walls are attractive and allow for cool air flow.
OLD AND NEW:
The Palace buildings look similar, but some of them were inspired by traditional construction. They are built using modern methods rather than traditional building methods, and they are often time-consuming.
PALACE VEHICLE:
Before the introduction of automobiles, people in Al Ain traveled on foot, by camel, or on horseback. This Land Rover is similar to some of the first vehicles used in Al Ain. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan often visited the desert of Abu Dhabi in a Land Rover, related to this one, to visit the people and monitor the progress of the country.
