Hello people!
I am back to share one of the great places to visit while in Abu Dhabi.
It is one of the newest landmarks in Abu Dhabi, that opened to the public in 2017.
The place boasts of its rich Arabian architecture and extravagant designs-- from the exterior to interior, will surely make your jaw drop. The Palace sits in 80,000 sq.m. government complex, equivalent to 83 football fields.
The Palace is not a residence, but is working palace designed for important summits and state visits. There are 3 wings behind the main building, which are the offices of the President, Vice President, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Getting Here.
The palace is located very near to the Emirates Palace Hotel at Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi.
There are public bus transport or taxi that are accessible to reach the place. Should you decide to come with your own car, there is a huge parking space designated to the palace visitors, free of charge.
There are buggy cars that are waiting at the parking slot to transport visitors to the Visitor's Centre.
Tickets and Tours
You need to buy tickets to be able to tour the palace. You can book it online - https://www.qasralwatan.ae/en/booking or buy tickets at the place itself.
1 Adult Ticket costs AED 60 ($16.30), while tickets for children and young adults aged 4-17 cost AED 30 ($ 8.15). Kids three years old and below can enter for free. These are general admissions tickets wherein you will have access to:
- the Palace
- the Gardens
- Visitor Centre;
- and all zones, exhibitions and public spaces.
Guided Tours
You can get access to a private guided tour (1-20 pax)for an extra cost of AED 600($163). There are also Journey of a Nation Tour and Architectural Craftsmanship Tour, which cost an extra AED 30 and AED 20 ($8.15 and $5.45), respectively.
Getting to the Palace
The buggy will drop you to the Visitor's Centre, where you may be asked to leave items prohibited in the palace like food, water, cigarettes and lighters, etc.
You will also go through standard security like scanners before you will be guided to the rear door where a bus awaits. The bus will bring you to the palace from the Visitor's Centre.
During the 5 minutes bus ride, you will already be treated with a beautiful landscape that is only the tip of the iceberg of what you are about to see inside the palace.
The Palace Grounds
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The main dome is one of largest in the world. 37 meters. the facade of the palace is made of white granite and limestones made to last hundreds of years.
The Great Hall
Are you ready to see what's inside jaw dropping, magnificent, exorbitant (and a lot more adjectives!) palace?
Presidential Banquet
This room is reserved for state banquets and can serve up to 300 guests. Here, the leaders are able to demonstrate Emirati hospitality. One of the ways in which this is shown is by serving food that reflects the guests' culture.
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Presidential Gifts
Here, we will find various diplomatic gifts to the UAE, which signifies a legacy of good will between the UAE and the world.
They are displayed under different categories like weaponry, medals and coins, and traditional clothes.
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Other collections on display are that are not included in the above photos are related to craftsmanship,regional productions, and national emblems and animals.
Power of Words
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Official Meeting Room
The Official Meeting room is used for state visits where foreign dignitaries from all around the world is hosted. It can be set up depending on who is the visitor and the purpose of the meeting.
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Qasr Al Watan Library
The Qasr Al Watan Library features a collection of 50,000 books from various ages of Arabian scholarship. It aims to preserve and share centuries of Arabian knowledge and culture with the world as envisioned by HH the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
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Shopping
Some of you will want to bring home a memorabilia from the Palace. Why not check out the shops for some exclusive, high quality souvenirs.
The prices are not too friendly, though.
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Finally, if you get hungry from all the walking inside the palace, there is also a selection of light snacks and drinks you can buy right before the palace exit. You can opt to eat inside, or outside with the below view, if the weather permits.
There is also a light and sound show, called Palace in Motion that happens from 7:30 pm in front of the main palace. It showcases three breathtaking acts that celebrates UAE's journey.
The Palace is open daily from 11:00am - 10:00pm, but is temporarily closed now due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Be sure to check their website - https://www.qasralwatan.ae/en to keep updated with the announcements.
Thanks for staying with me. Until our next travel together!
❤️ Arlyn
