Qasr Al Hosn

Qasr Al Hosn began in the eighteenth century as a single round watchtower built to guard the freshwater well that made settlement on Abu Dhabi island possible at all, and it grew from that into a fort and then the ruling family's residence and the seat of government, which it remained until the 1960s. It is the oldest stone structure in the city and the one building that connects the modern capital to its origins as a pearling and fishing settlement. A long restoration reopened it in 2018, stripping later cement render back to the original coral and sea-stone construction, and the inner fort now holds an exhibition on the island's history, with archaeological finds beneath glass in the floor. In the same compound the House of Artisans keeps traditional crafts alive, with weavers working sadu textiles and palm-frond basketry in front of visitors.

What you actually see

• The inner fort and watchtower - the original structure at the heart of the compound.
• The exhibition - the island's story from the well to the modern capital.
• The House of Artisans - sadu weaving and palm-frond craft demonstrated live.
• The restored walls - coral and sea stone revealed by the recent conservation.

When to go

November to March for anything involving being outdoors in the compound; the interiors are air-conditioned year-round, which makes it a good summer option. It closes on some weekdays and keeps shorter hours in the hot months, so check before travelling.

Honest expectations

It is a modest building by the standards of the city's spectacular modern architecture, and visitors expecting grandeur will find a small whitewashed fort. Much of the interest is in the exhibition rather than the rooms themselves. The compound is exposed to the sun, so summer visits mean going straight between air-conditioned spaces.

Nearby

The corniche, the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat and the Grand Mosque are all in the city.