The Presidential Palace of the United Arab Emirates
Hightlight
-
Air conditioner
-
Car parking
If you have ever wondered what a real life Presidential Palace looked like from the inside, you will soon have a chance to find out. For the first time since its completion in 2015, the Qasr Al Watan, also known as the Palace of the Nations has opened the doors of its glittering Presidential Palace to the public. Qasr Al Watan is an exquisitely crafted tribute to Arabian heritage and artistry. This Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi is more than just a palace, it is a fountain of knowledge on the enriching journey of Arabian history in a contemporary setting. Read on because you are in for a real royal treat!
Qasr Al Watan, is just one part of the sprawling Presidential Palace compound in Ras Al Akhdar. It was a mysterious labyrinthine of white domes, opulent buildings and well manicured gardens that were off limits to the public after its construction in 2015. But, not anymore. You can now step foot into a part of the grandiose palace and revel in its architecture, precious manuscripts and sculptures. A visit here draws back the curtain on the rarefied world of the Arabian royal court and that is something no one has ever seen till date.
The palace houses the formal offices of the President, the Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and while you can’t visit these parts, you never know when you may chance upon them!
The world famous Emirates Palaces stands adjacent to the Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi. However, Qasr Al Watan’s pearl white façade blazing in the afternoon sun, contrasting sharply with the blue of the sea makes the Emirates Palace look rather less impressive.
Read our guide on visiting the Emirates Palace and plan your trip better.
Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Visit – Why Go Inside?
While its mere architecture and opulence is a reason enough to lay eyes on the Palace, here’s why you must visit the Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi.
- Indulge in a one of a kind opportunity to marvel at majestic hallways of the Presidential Palace
- Explore exhibitions that celebrate UAE’s rich Arabic heritage and learn more about the rulers and governing institutions of the nation.
- Qasr Al Watan is more than just a palace, it is an enriching journey in a contemporary setting that reveals and reflects on the innovations that will drive UAE’s future.
- The Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi houses the offices of the President, Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. While you cannot enter these offices, getting a glimpse of it is simply amazing!
- The Palace is also the official meeting place for the UAE Cabinet and the Federal Supreme Council – the highest constitutional authority in the UAE. It is where official state visits and global leaders like the Pope, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and Chinese President, Xi Jinping were hosted during their visit.
- Qasr Al Watan houses interactive exhibitions, a library containing books and resources about the UAE and the House of Knowledge, which highlights the contributions made Arabs to various fields of study. These are just a fraction of the interesting rooms and exhibitions you can witness inside.
Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Architecture
Qasr Al Watan is built on the Ras Al Akhdar peninsula, adjacent to the Emirates Palace hotel spanning 150 hectares of land. The architectural style is similar to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with flickers of Mughal-era architecture that was in vogue during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the chief characteristics include large white onion-style domes, lavish courtyards, delicate ornamentation and lush manicured gardens.
The façade of the palace features white granite and limestone built to last hundreds of years. The beige and honey hues signify the UAE’s landscape of ever-shifting sands, the white is an ode to purity and the blue represents the sky. In essence, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi is gold with a hint of caramel and sunshine.
The interior of the Palace of Nations Abu Dhabi is decorated using white, yellow and blue to signify the landscape of the region. The Palace’s architectural and interior design also echos the importance of the exhibits housed within its walls.
Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Tickets & Tour
Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Tour Prices
- Palace & Garden Ticket – This is an all access ticket which allows you to enter all public spaces, inside and out.
- Adult Price – Dhs 60
- Child Price (4 to 17 years) – Dhs 30
- Kids under the age of 4 years go free.
- Garden Only Ticket – This ticket gives you access to the grounds and visitor centre.
- Adult Price – Dhs 25
- Child Price (4 to 17 years) – Dhs 12
- Kids under the age of 4 years go free.
Over and above the ticket price, you can book a guided tour. Standard English or Arabic guided cost Dhs 30 per pax. These tours are limited to 20 visitors per tour. Individuals or groups of up to 20 can arrange for a private guided tour in either English or Arabic for Dhs 600.
Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Tour Timings
Guided tours depart every 30 minutes in English or Arabic languages. They last for 60 minutes and give you access to both the Palace and Garden.
Why take a Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Tour?
Qasar Al Watan Guided tours give you a glimpse of Arabian craftsmanship and takes you through centuries of knowledge in the form of books, manuscripts, exhibitions and artwork. You can gain a deeper understanding about the rulers and institutions of the country. Those visiting at night receive a special treat of a light and sound show told in three acts covering the past, present and future vision of the country.
Inside the Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi – Tour Highlights
The Palace of the Nations tour takes you through 8 areas of significance inside the Palace. Here’s a quick glimpse.
The Great Hall
The guided tour begins at the Great Hall which stands at the heart of the building, measuring 100×100 metres. The highlight of the hall is without doubt the main dome – one of the largest in the world and the largest in the region, measuring 37 metres in diameter. The intricate craftsmanship invested in every single element of The Great Hall is simply spellbinding.
Spirit of Collaboration
This room was designed to host meetings of the Federal Supreme Council, as well as summits of organisations such as the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Presidential Banquet
This banquet is reserved for official occasions, but is also an ode to Emirati hospitality. About 149,000 unique pieces of silver, crystal and china were specially designed and made for the palace. The plates are hand-painted and the food reflects the country where the host comes from. The banquet has been designed such that the tables at the front are half empty so guests do not turn their backs on the hosts. One of the most popular meals served here is quzi – an entire lamb sitting on a bed of rice.
Presidential Gifts
This exhibition showcases the diplomatic gifts UAE has received from foreign dignitaries during state visits. Lay your eyes on carpets from Turkmenistan, an ornate sword and shield from Kazakhstan, armour from Japan and a beautiful khanjar from Oman, all adding a splash of colour to the dry world of diplomacy.
House of Knowledge
The House of Knowledge in the east wing of the Palace has two rooms featuring rare artefacts, books, and manuscripts including The Birmingham Qur’an, The Atlas Manuscript on Astronomy and Explanation of Lamiat Al-Zukak on law and judiciary rules and antiquities from the Arab world. You can also view key artefacts and historic maps that represent some of the earliest Arab contributions to human knowledge during the period of enlightenment referred to as the Arab Golden Age.
Al Barza
At the Al Barza, you can aquaint yourself with the traditional role of a majlis- a space for cultural, political and social gatherings – through an engaging multimedia show which sheds light on the continuation of a tradition historically followed by Emirati leaders to govern with the consensus of their people.
Qasr Al Watan Library
The Qasr Al Watan Library is where scholars can explore a vast collection of over 50,000 books and resources about the UAE and learn about the nation’s progressive journey. It houses examples of Travelogues on History, Architecture, Biology and Ethnography and also features a Digital Library collection of over 16 million items, which can be accessed online from anywhere within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Palace in Motion (Light and Sound show)
If you’re visiting the Palace in the evening, you can enjoy a magnificent light and sound show projected onto the façade of the iconic building. A story told in three acts, the show draws a link between the aspirations of Qasr Al Watan and the vision of the nation, reflecting on the UAE’s journey of the past, present and future.
Qasr Al Watan Opening Hours
Qasr Al Watan will be open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
The Palace in Motion evening light and sound show starts at 7:30 PM daily for a duration of 15 minutes
Getting to Qasr Al Watan
Reaching the Presidential Palace is a simple affair.
- By Bus : Bus number 10 and 34 has a stop near the Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi.
- By Car : Simply feeding in “Qasr Al Watan” on your Google Maps, GPS should take you to the parking lot of the Palace.
Maps
Contact
Opening Hours
FAQ's
When is the Palace open for visitors?
Sunday - Tuesday - Wednesday Open: 10:00am Last entry: 4:30pm Palace exhibitions close: 6:00pm Thursday to Saturday Open: 12:00am Last entry: 6:30pm Palace exhibitions close: 7:15pm Palace in Motion Show: 7:30pm The Palace is closed in Mondays
Where can I park my car?
There are ample parking spaces available and there is no charge to park here.
Is there valet parking?
For the safety and wellbeing of our guests, our valet parking service is currently unavailable.
When is the Palace open for visitors?
Sunday - Tuesday - Wednesday Open: 10:00am Last entry: 4:30pm Palace exhibitions close: 6:00pm Thursday to Saturday Open: 12:00am Last entry: 6:30pm Palace exhibitions close: 7:15pm Palace in Motion Show: 7:30pm The Palace is closed in Mondays
Does Qasr Al Watan provide transportation services?
No, visitors must find their own transport to/from Qasr Al Watan.
How can I purchase a ticket?
Tickets can be purchased online. Please see the Tickets section of the website for more information.
How do I receive my tickets when I buy online?
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.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, there is an entry fee. Please see the Tickets section of the website for more information.
Are refunds possible for the entry fee?
No, there are no refunds on any and all entry tickets.
If I leave the grounds, can I return without paying again?
No, once you exit the premises you will not be able to enter again.
Does Qasr Al Watan have guided tours?
For the safety and wellbeing of our guests, our guided tour services are temporarily unavailable.
Do I have to take a guided tour?
No, but to enhance your experience of Qasr Al Watan, a guided tour is recommended.
Are there any facilities for people of determination & the elderly?
Yes, Qasr Al Watan provides wheelchairs for people of determination and elderly visitors. People of determination receive complimentary access plus one companion.
Are there prayer facilities at the site?
Temporarily Unavailable
Is internet access available for visitors?
There is no Wi-Fi available throughout the Palace grounds.
Is photography allowed in Qasr Al Watan?
Yes, non-commercial photography and filming are encouraged. Please see the Visitor Information section of the website for more information.
Are mobile phones allowed?
Yes, in consideration for other visitors, mobile phones must be switched to silent.
Can I purchase food and drink during my visit?
Yes, food and beverages are available for purchase from Legma, which is located at the Palace exit and at the Visitors center’s exit. Please be aware that food and drink can only be consumed in restaurant areas of the palace and in the gardens. Consumption of food and drink is not permitted in the great hall or exhibition rooms. Please see the Visitor Information section on the website for more information.
Is smoking allowed?
Yes, a designated smoking area is located outside the Visitor Centre.
Can I bring a pet?
No, pets or animals are not allowed in the Palace or the Palace grounds.
How can I contact Qasr Al Watan?
For assistance, you can call our Contact Centre on (+971) 600 544 442 or send us your request through the Contact us form or email us contact@qasralwatan.ae. The opening hours for the Contact Centre are 10:00am to 6:00pm, 7 days a week.
