Qasr Al Watan

Qasr Al Watan is part of the working presidential palace compound and was opened to the public in 2019, which is unusual for a functioning seat of government. Visitors see the Great Hall under a dome thirty-seven metres across, the presidential banquet hall, the House of Knowledge with manuscripts on Arab science and astronomy, and the room where the Federal Supreme Council meets. The building is new, finished in 2017, and built in white stone with geometric ornament throughout.

What's there

• The Great Hall - a domed hall thirty-seven metres across under geometric ornament.
• The House of Knowledge - manuscripts and instruments of Arab science and astronomy.
• The council chamber - the room used by the Federal Supreme Council.
• The evening projection - a light show played across the palace facade after dark.

When to go

October to April for the gardens and the evening show. Book online to avoid queues at the gate. It can close at short notice for state business.

Good to know

It is a working palace and closes without much warning for official use. Security screening at the entrance takes time. The building is new and anyone expecting a historic palace will not find one.

Nearby

Emirates Palace is east, and the Corniche is beyond it.

Key facts