Qasr Al Watan, which translates from Arabic as "Palace of the Nation," is located in Abu Dhabi on the western tip of the island, in the Al Ras Al Akhdar area. It is not just a tourist attraction, but an active government building. Official meetings of heads of foreign states, sessions of the government of the United Arab Emirates, and other important events are held here.
The palace was opened to visitors in March 2019. Previously, only diplomats and high-ranking guests could enter, but now anyone can see the interiors where state matters are decided.
Construction History and Opening
Construction of the palace was completed in 2017. It was originally built for government needs, but two years later, the authorities decided to open the complex to the public so that people could learn about the country`s cultural and political heritage.
The entire complex covers an area of about 380 thousand square meters. White granite and limestone were used for the facade finishes. Inside, three main colors dominate: white, blue, and gold.
Halls of the Qasr Al Watan Palace
The Great Hall of Qasr Al Watan Palace
The tour of the palace usually begins with the Great Hall. This is the central and most spacious room in the complex. Its length and width are one hundred meters. The hall is topped by a dome with a diameter of 37 meters, which rises to a height of 60 meters. The dome is decorated with mosaics featuring traditional Arabic patterns. To make it easier for visitors to see the details of the ceiling paintings, four large mirrored cubes were placed in the corners of the hall. They reflect what is directly above you.
The Spirit of Collaboration Hall of Qasr Al Watan Palace
From the Great Hall, you can proceed to the Spirit of Collaboration Hall. This is where the UAE government meets and where gatherings of Arab state leaders take place.
The Presidential Banquet Hall
Nearby is the Presidential Banquet Hall. Official dinners are held here in honor of visiting delegations. For table settings, the palace stores nearly 150 thousand pieces of tableware: sterling silver, porcelain, and crystal. The set of tableware is selected depending on the status of the event and the number of guests; everything is done according to strict protocol rules.
The Museum at Qasr Al Watan Palace
In the eastern part of the palace is the "House of Knowledge" — the name of the on-site museum. Items related to the history and culture of the Arab world are collected here. The main treasure of the collection is ancient manuscripts. Among them, you can see one of the oldest surviving copies of the Quran, as well as pages from the Psalms of David. In 2019, which was declared the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, the museum displayed three holy books together: the Quran, the Bible, and the Torah.
Gifts to the President from Around the World
In a separate gallery, gifts presented to the UAE President by foreign delegations are exhibited. Here you can find, for example, handcrafted Turkmen carpets, a ceremonial sword and shield from Kazakhstan, Japanese samurai armor, and a traditional curved dagger from Oman called a khanjar.
Quote from the First President
Another unusual exhibit in the museum is a large golden sphere assembled from three-dimensional Arabic letters. "The Power of Words" is a majestic gilded sculpture weighing 6 tons, created by Emirati artist Mattar bin Lahej. It consists of intricately intertwined Arabic calligraphy forming the famous quote by the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed: "Wealth is not money or oil; wealth lies in people, and it is worthless if it does not serve them." Visitors can walk inside the sculpture to view the calligraphy from different angles.
The Library at Qasr Al Watan Palace
In the same wing is the library. It houses more than 50 thousand books. All of them are dedicated to the history, culture, and politics of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab countries in general. If you count not only books but also newspapers, magazines, and electronic materials, the total number of storage units exceeds 16 million.
Details of the Ornamentation at Qasr Al Watan Palace
If you pay attention to details, the first thing to look at is the floor. It is paved with marble of different colors, and it is not just a plain covering, but complex geometric patterns that stretch across the entire Great Hall and corridors.
The pattern on the floor repeats traditional Arabic ornaments: here you find eight-pointed stars, intertwining lines, and floral motifs. All of this is laid out in marble mosaic, and fitting each piece of stone together took thousands of hours of work.
The floor`s color palette is chosen to complement the walls and ceiling, but without drawing too much attention to itself. The main background is a warm beige-cream marble. Scattered across it are inlays of darker stone: chocolate-brown, terracotta, and muted gold. Along the edges of the hall, strips of gray-blue marble with veins run next to the walls — this color echoes the blue decor on the walls.
In the center of the Great Hall under the dome, the pattern becomes more complex. There, thin lines of black stone are woven into the marble, creating an illusion of depth: the ornament seems to rise above the floor, although it is perfectly level. Here and there, flecks of pinkish marble can be found.
If you go into the side galleries, the pattern on the floor changes. Instead of large geometric shapes, smaller, more frequent patterns appear, reminiscent of a woven basket or an oriental carpet. Only this carpet is made of stone. The colors there are subdued: the same beige and brown tones, but with the addition of dark burgundy marble.
Interestingly, the marble for the floor was brought from different countries. The light varieties are from Italy and Greece, the dark and burgundy ones are from India and China. Each piece was selected by hand for its shade, so the transitions between colors are smooth and the pattern looks cohesive.
Besides the floor, it`s worth looking at the palace`s entrance doors. Each door was handmade, taking 350 hours. They were carved from solid Canadian maple and covered with 23-karat gold leaf.
The walls inside the palace are adorned with more than five thousand different patterns. All these ornaments are copied from authentic historical buildings of the Arab world.
Evening Light Show
Every evening after sunset, a light show is projected onto the palace facade. It lasts about fifteen minutes. Images are projected onto the walls telling the story of the UAE: how the Bedouin lived in the desert, how oil was discovered in the country, and how modern cities were built. The show is free and can be seen from the square in front of the palace.
Practical Information for Tourists
Opening Hours: The palace is open daily, usually from ten in the morning until six in the evening. However, opening hours may change if official events are scheduled at the palace. Therefore, it is best to check the official website before your trip to confirm the schedule.
Ticket Prices: An adult entrance ticket costs about 60–65 dirhams. Tickets for children are cheaper. Sometimes you can buy a combo ticket that includes transfer from the hotel to the palace and back.
Dress Code: Regarding clothing, certain rules apply here. Clothing must cover the shoulders and knees. Spaghetti strap tops, short shorts, and sheer fabrics are not allowed — you will simply not be admitted. Covering your head with a scarf is not necessary; it is not required.
Falcon Encounter: On the palace grounds, free falcon encounters are held for guests. This is an interactive program where they explain how the Bedouin used falcons for hunting. You can hold the bird and take a photo with it. Participation is free.
Qasr Al Watan is worth visiting for those who want to see with their own eyes what the working interiors of the government of the United Arab Emirates look like. It is not a museum in the usual sense, but a real working building, just very large and richly decorated. In addition to the interiors, you can see a collection of historical manuscripts and gifts brought from all over the world.
