Qasr Al Watan will open its doors for visitor tours will open daily from next week…

The Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors to the public for the first time this March.

Starting Monday, March 11, members of the public will be able to visit one of the buildings within the palace compound – Qasr Al Watan or Palace of the Nation.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, made the announcement on Monday, saying that the building will open to visitors for public tours.

“In line with the UAE President’s vision, I have given directives to allocate a building in the Presidential Palace compound, called Qasr Al Watan, ‘Palace of the Nation’. Visitor tours of the palace will serve as a knowledge base and boost cultural understanding of the UAE,” Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Tweeted.

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What will you see?

Inside Qasr Al Watan, members of the public will be able to visit the Qasr Al Watan library, which houses a vast collection of books about the UAE.

They can also go and see the House of Knowledge, which highlights Arabs contributions to various fields and check out some interesting cultural exhibitions.

They will also get to learn about the rules and institutions of the country as well as create traditional calligraphy on interactive screens, and see examples of Arabian art.

Visit at night to experience a three-act light and sound show which cover the past, present and future vision of the country.

There are two gift shops as well available on site so you can take home a souvenir from your tour. One is located in the visitor centre and the other in the main palace building.

If you want to fuel up, there are five locations on site offering food and beverages ranging from a cafe, a casual dining restaurant, and even a fine dining spot.

Ticket cost and tours:

A palace and garden ticket, which will give you access to all public spaces inside and out will cost you Dhs60 for adults and Dhs30 for children from four to 17  years. Under 4’s can enter for free.

A garden ticket alone will grant you access to the grounds and visitors centre and will cost you Dhs25 for adults and Dhs12 for children.

A guided tour will cost you an additional Dhs30 per visitor and are available in English or Arabic. They run every 30 minutes and will accommodate only 20 people per tour.

If you want a private tour for a small group (of up to 20), or yourself, these are available as well for Dhs600.

The tour duration is approximately 90 mins.

You can purchase your tickets here

Timings:

Qasr Al Watan will be open daily from 10am to 8pm apart from March 11 when they will open at noon.

Parking:

Valet parking is available at the visitor’s centre every day from 9.30am to 9.30pm for a charge of Dhs80. But you can park for free on site as well and there is ample of parking.

Rules:

Here’s a list of rules to keep in mind once you are at the Palace:

Dress code – Women should wear long sleeves with a long skirt or trousers. Men are not permitted to wear shorts. If you don’t abide by the dress code you will be turned away.

Photography/Videography – Do not take photos or record the security staff or security systems once on the palace grounds but photography is allowed anywhere else as a private visitor.

Banned items – Do not carry items such as penknives, scissors, alcohol, long umbrellas. Large bags, cycles, roller-skates, skateboards etc will not be permitted on the palace grounds. Pushchairs won’t be allowed in either and need to be checked in with at security, however there will be pushchairs available to rent for Dhs40.

Smoking – Smoking is not permitted on the palace of it’s grounds but there is a dedicated smoking area outside the visitors centre.

Pets – Pets or any sort of animals are not allowed on the palace grounds.

Qasr Al Watan, Al Ras Al Akhdar – Abu Dhabi, everyday 10am to 8pm, Palace and Garden ticket Dhs60 adults, Dhs30 children (four to 17  years), Garden ticket Dhs25 adults, Dhs12 for children, under 4’s free. Tel: (+971) 600 544 442  qasralwatan.ae

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