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Yesterday saw the historic opening of Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace compound, in Abu Dhabi.
Qasr Al Watan – known as Palace of the Nation – previously was reserved solely for royals and dignitaries, but is now letting members of the public get a glimpse of the opulence behind its white marble walls.
A visit to the palace offers a lot more than views of a pretty building. The Abu Dhabi presidential Palace contains interactive exhibitions, a library containing books and resources about the UAE, as well as the House of Knowledge – which highlights the many contributions that Arabs have made in the world.
The Presidential Palace was completed back in 2015 and is rather grand indeed. It features large white domes, gold furnishings, marble decorations and green gardens.
Unlike some other palaces of the world – which exist merely as tourist destinations – Qasr Al Watan is still functional. It still holds the offices of the President, Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace has housed various global leaders and important figures over the last four years, most recently The Pope on his visit as part of the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’.
At the opening ceremony on Monday, Sheikh Mohammed Tweeted: “Mohammed bin Zayed and I inaugurated Qasr Al Watan – Place of the Nation – in the Presidential Palace compound in Abu Dhabi. The new cultural landmark reflects our heritage and identity, opening its doors to our people, residents and visitors starting tomorrow”.
Today marks the first day the palace is open to the public.
There are various packages and things to do at the palace. There are tours around many of the public spaces; including the gardens, visitor centre and exhibition space from 10 am to 8 pm each day.
Tickets for a full tour cost AED60 for adults and AED30 for children. You can also bag garden-only tickets for AED25 and AED12 respectively.
This marks another major boon for tourists in the nation’s capital. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has been open for just over a year now, and has already received major acclaim both internationally and within the region, for championing the Middle East’s contribution to the arts.
The Presidential palace – and it House of Knowledge – stands as another grand testament to many contributions that the Arab world has had on the world.
