Abu Dhabi - Everything from ticket prices to timings, we have you covered.
Published: Mon 11 Mar 2019, 3:48 PM
Updated: Mon 11 Mar 2019, 5:56 PM
UAE residents and visitors are in for a royal treat as Abu Dhabi's presidential palace is now open for tours.
The magnificent Qasr Al Watan, a new cultural landmark housed within the Presidential Palace compound opened its doors to the general public on March 11.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, led the opening ceremony of the country's newest cultural landmark and an important symbol of the UAE's progressive journey, reflecting the leadership's commitment to boosting cultural understanding amongst nations.
The landmark is open daily from 10am - 8pm with guided tours showing visitors a library that is home to a vast collection of books and resources about the UAE's political, social and cultural history.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said during the opening that the UAE's cultural legacy is a precious asset that must be treasured by both present and future generations, and is driving the leadership's aspirations for a nation built upon the values of tolerance and coexistence.
"The preservation of the UAE's cultural and intellectual legacy is integral to its progressive journey thus far, and that the opening of Qasr Al Watan reflects the leadership's dedication to fostering a strong connection between the community and their heritage," added Sheikh Mohammed.
About Qasr Al Watan
Qasr Al Watan is a working palace that hosts official state visits and summits in addition to hosting the Federal Supreme Council meetings and the UAE Cabinet meetings.
Construction of the palace was completed in 2015 by the Consolidated Contractors Company and took 63 months but the project also involved a host of architects, interior designers and, landscape gardeners
Located on the Ras Al Akhdar peninsula, beside Emirates Palace hotel, the area including the palace and gardens encompasses 150 hectares.
Qasr Al Watan gives visitors the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the UAE's governing traditions and values and they will be able to explore a well-preserved legacy of knowledge and tradition. Visitors will also be able to experience interactive cultural exhibitions. In the west wing, they will learn about the formation of the UAE and its governance, and have access to halls typically reserved for official summits.
Within the House of Knowledge in the east wing, visitors can explore a vast collection of artefacts and rare manuscripts that highlight the Arab world's contributions to various intellectual fields including science, arts, humanities and literature.
Architecture and Design
Qasr Al Watan reflects centuries of Arabian architectural design and tradition in a palace built for the 21st century and shares similarities with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in that it has flickers of Mughal-era architecture. Chief characteristics of this style include large onion-style domes, courtyards, delicate ornamentation and lush gardens.
More than a traditional palace, Qasr Al Watan is an exquisitely crafted tribute to the region's Arabian heritage and artistry, and the architectural and interior design echo the significance of the exhibits housed within its walls and the function of its most iconic rooms.
The façade of the palace is constructed from white granite and limestone built to last hundreds of years. The colour white was chosen as a symbol of purity and peace, and is also a reflection of the beige and white buildings that are often commonly found in coastal Gulf countries.
Tour areas at Qasr Al Watan
The Great Hall
Visitors will be able to enjoy an enriching journey throughout their tour at the palace, beginning at The Great Hall - the heart of the building that measures 100x100 metres. The highlight of The Great Hall is the main dome - one of the largest in the world, measuring 37 metres in diameter. Visitors will be able to closely explore specific design elements of The Great Hall through four art installations -mirrored cubes that emphasise the hall's architectural details, such as the diversity of patterns, and intricate craftsmanship invested in every single design
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
Banquets in this hall are reserved for official occasions, but they are also an opportunity to extend Emirati hospitality to representatives of nations and allies. About 149,000 unique pieces of silver, crystal and china were made for the palace.
Presidential Gifts
This exhibition showcases part of the collection of diplomatic gifts the UAE has received from foreign dignitaries during state visits including beautiful clothes from the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. When choosing official gifts, the three main things that are taken into consideration are: culture, religion, and personal taste.
Al Barza
At Al Barza, visitors will learn about 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.
House of Knowledge
Continuing their journey to the House of Knowledge in the east wing of the Palace, visitors will have access to 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. Visitors will also be able to 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.
Qasr Al Watan Library
The palace houses the Qasr Al Watan Library 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. The Library houses examples of Travelogues on History, Architecture, Biology and Ethnography. The Library 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)
In the evening, visitors will enjoy a magnificent light and sound show which will be 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.
Timings
Qasr Al Watan is opens seven days a week from 10am - 8pm
Standard General Admission ticket prices:
Entry to the Palace and Garden: Dh60 for adults, Dh30 for children under 17
Entry to the Garden only: Dh25 for adults, and Dh12 for children under 17
Standard Guided Tours
A scheduled trip will be conducted by a tour guide every 30 minutes in English or Arabic languages, with a Dh30 payment per visitor in addition to the entry ticket. The tour duration is 60 minutes.
Tickets can be bought daily at the visitor centre from 9.30am until 7pm and online from the official Qasr Al Watan website.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
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