You Can Now Enter the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi!

Ever wanted to experience the surreal royalty portrayed in “Aladdin”? Or, dreamt of living like Mia in “The Princess Diaries”? Bringing your childhood fantasies alive with a fine blend of Arabic architecture, the Presidential Palace is a vision in white limestone and granite, sparkling bright on the banks of the cerulean Gulf waters. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, announced that Qasr Al Watan, a building set inside the Presidential Palace complex, will open its doors to the general public on 11^th March 2019. Yay!

If you’re visiting Abu Dhabi anytime soon, you should definitely visit Qasr Al Watan, set within the Presidential Palace. Here’s a sneak peek inside this wonder, so that you know what awaits you!

#MMTTravellerTip: Don’t miss the night show ‘Palace in Motion’, a light and sound show presenting the past, present, and the future vision of the nation, in three acts!

Kick-start your trip with a visit to The Great Hall, located in the heart of the building and renowned for hosting state dignitaries and global leaders. It also provides access to eight other rooms open to the public. With a huge diameter of 37 metres, the dome is larger than the Grand Mosque. Locate the four mirror-cube installations placed at each corner, reflecting the light to enhance the beauty of the place – its pure science delighting your senses!

#MMTFunTrivia: Boasting of traditional Arab influences, the palace showcases intricate motif work and ornate tile work with 5000 geometric and floral patterns decorating the surfaces!

Make your way to the gift room, housing the presidential gifts that the king had received from foreign countries. Spot the lovely khanjar from Oman, intricate sword and shield gifted by Kazakhstan, plush carpets from Turkmenistan, the Japanese Samurai armour and many other extravagant gifts.

Steps away is the Spirit of Collaboration Hall, especially reserved for holding summits of the Arab league and GCC. Notice the huge chandelier hanging in the middle of the room, made out of 3,50,000 crystals and weighing about 12 tonnes! It’s so huge and grand that there is a separate space inside the chandelier to help facilitate repairs without moving it. Phew! that’s some Arabian grandeur.

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#MMTQuickFact: Every palace door took about 350 hours to construct from solid maple and is handcrafted with 23-carat gold work!

Soak in the magnificence of the huge Qasr Al Watan Library, said to house nearly 40,000 books and a digital collection of more than 16 million items, which can be availed by all visitors. Interesting, right?! Oh! They also have a House of Knowledge in the east wing where rare manuscripts and artefacts from Arabia are preserved.

#MMTQuickFact: To honour the 2019 UAE Year of Tolerance, the room houses three holy books together to depict peace and co-existence – The Holy Quran, The Holy Bible and David’s Psalms!

Time for a selfie? Head to the lattice-inspired sculpture by the renowned artist, Mattar bin Lahej, a popular selfie spot amongst visitors. If are you looking for something to munch on while touring the palace, make your way to the royal banquet, a fully-prepared banquet hall decorated with 1,49,000 silver cutlery and hand painted plates. Fancy, right?!

#MMTFoodieTip: Do try the quzi here, it’s a popular dish amongst the locals and visitors alike!

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Other than that, the palace also has a two fancy restaurants – Dhiyafat Qasr Al Watan and Al Fowala. There’s a café inside the library too, its called Maqha Al Maktaba. Oh, and you can also buy delicious food items at Legma, a grab-and-go outlet.

Sign-up for the 5-minute multimedia show on the history of UAE at The Barza – the majlis room just second in size to The Great Hall and designed to formally welcome guests in traditional Emirati fashion. Also, stop by the two gift shops, if you plan to buy a souvenir – one is at the Visitor Centre and the other one is at the Main Palace.

Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday

Entry Fee:

• Palace & Garden ticket for adults: AED 60 (Approx. INR 1142)
• Palace & Garden ticket for juniors: AED 30 (Approx. INR 571)

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Ready to indulge in a royal Emirati escapade? Head to Qasr Al Watan!

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