The qasr Al Watan Presidential Palance in Abu Dhabi
The qasr Al Watan Presidential Palance in Abu Dhabi
The qasr Al Watan Presidential Palance in Abu Dhabi ; The beautiful Qasr Al Watan is more than a palace, it is a unique testament to the spirit of the people of United Arab Emirates and its leaders. The palace invites the world to share the nation’s culture, knowledge and inspiring journey. It is also offers an enriching interactive journey in a contemporary setting revealing and reflecting on governance, knowledge and craftsmanship.
Qasr Al Watan is an unmissable site to visit in Abu Dhabi, the site is a cultural monument located on the grounds of the gigantic presidential palace where the president, vice president and the crown price of Abu Dhabi have their own office and home.
The Palace is a working presidential palace and a majestic cultural landmark inviting you to discover the rich legacy of knowledge and mesmerizing tradition that has shaped the UAE’s journey. The palace boasts cultural understand of the nation and emphasizes its incredible history.
Qasr Al Watan Palace stands as an icon of Abu Dhabi’s skyline with a design exquisitely crafted to tribute to its Arabian heritage and artistry. As you enter the grounds of the Palace, you will feel the grandeur. The Palace’s structure and open halls echo its significance in Emirate Culture.
The Presidential Palace is known as one of the most beautiful palaces in the world.
History of Qasr Watan Palace
The construction of the Qasr Al Watan Palace was completed in 2017 and to celebrate the heritage of the country, leaders including Sheikhs Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates) and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces) decided to open the palace to the public on 11th March 2019.
Before being opened to the public, the palace was used only for official purposes such as hosting foreign leaders of states and for meetings of the supreme council and federal cabinet of the country. Even after being opened to the public, the Palace continues to serve as a site of these purposes.
In August of 2019, the palace was named among the top 20 landmarks of art and culture in the world by the Travel and Tourism website of Hotel and Rest. In 202, the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace was nominated as the main cultural tourist attraction ithe Middle East by the World Travel Awards.
Arabic Architecture
The Qasr Al Watan also known as “Palace of the Nation” has impressive architecture which will surprise you with every step you take, everywhere you look in the palace you will see the magnificent Arabian architecture, huge murals, giant domes, large halls with marble floors, gold leaf, richly decorated ceilings and countless chandeliers.
The Great Hall
The Great Halls – the central heart of the building is main attraction of Qasr Al Watan, the hall is an impressive size with a size of 100 by 100 meters and astonishing interior. Everywhere you look in the Great Hall, you will see beautiful marble floors, traditional calligraphy, beautifully decorated walls, giant white domes in the ceiling with the largest being 37 meters in diameter. This makes this dome even larger than the largest dome of any other attraction in Abu Dhabi – the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
In the corners of the Great Halls, there are four large cubes with mirror that beautifully reflect the light in the room on the mable, gold leaf and the white and yellow walls in the room. The Great Hall has been used extensively in the past to welcome World leader and famous people including the Chinese President and the Pope.
Library and Video Show
From the Great Hall, there are other eight public spaces you can visit such as The Spirit of Collaboration room where a chandelier hangs, the chandelier consists of 350,000 crystals and weighs more than 12 tons. The chandelier is so large that it had to be assembled on the spot in the room because it did not fit through any door or window.
Other attractions in the palace include The Public Library – Qasr Al Watan Library with more than 50,000 books in English and Arabic.
Every evening there is a spectacular “night show” where video images and lights are projected on the façade of the palace.
The Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace also has the five strinking blue towers of the Etihad Towers, there is also the Observation Deck at 300 giving you a magnificent view of the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace from the 74th floor, 300 meters above the ground.
How to get to Qasr Watan Presidential Palace
The Qasr Watan Presidential Palace is located in the center of Abu Dhabi at the end of Corniche Road, the Palace is found on the Peninsula where you can also find the famous Emirates Palace Hotel.
From Corniche Road, it takes a long walk to cross the sights.
- From the Marina Mall it takes over 50 minutes’ walk (4.4 kilometers)
- From the Etihad Towers, it is a 35 minutes’ walk (3.2 kiloemetrs)
The best way to get to Qasr Al Watan Palace is by a taxi, if you wish to travel by yourself. The journey time from the center of Dubai is approximately 1.5 hours from the center of Abu Dhabi, it takes an average of 10 to 15 minutes.
Opening hours of Qasr Watan Presidential Palace
The Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace is open seven days a week from 10 am to 8 pm with the latest access being possible at 7 pm.
