Embark on a Journey Through UAE’s History and Culture at Qasr Al Watan

If you have some free time from work or are visiting Abu Dhabi, add another beloved destination to your itinerary: Qasr Al Watan.

The United Arab Emirates is a nation with a fascinating history. Visiting Qasr Al Watan, the Palace of the Nation, allows you to understand the country’s past and appreciate how it once relied on pearl diving and trade before becoming a global powerhouse in just a few decades.

You can also learn about various Emirati traditions that shine through their architecture, literature, cuisine, and hospitality, which shape the daily lives of the locals.

When you visit Qasr Al Watan, you can go on a journey through the UAE’s fascinating history, heritage, and culture, and learn to appreciate the country’s identity and vision.

Exploring Qasr Al Watan

Qasr Al Watan is divided into different zones, each providing insights and experiences that immerse visitors in the UAE’s history and culture.

Here’s a look at the palace’s main zones:

1. The Great Hall

The Great Hall, the palace's masterpiece, boasts majestic Arabian architecture, craftsmanship, and artistry. The grand space boasts a diameter of 37 meters, a ceiling height of 60 meters, and an eye-catching central dome, archways, ornamentation, and mosaic patterns.

The mirrored cubes reflect the zone's artistic details, which makes The Great Hall even more mesmerizing.

In addition to the mirrored cubes, the hall is outfitted with curved glass panels, Arabesque patterns, and symmetrical marble panels. They all create an intricate, attractive visual feast that will delight your eyes.

This zone features the palace’s signature colors: blue, white, and yellow. Blue represents the Arabian Gulf, while white stands for purity. Yellow embodies the hues of the desert sands.

The combination of these three colors makes this zone visually stunning and a meaningful place to visit.

The Great Hall serves as the entryway to the other zones. It’s the perfect starting point for your journey through Qasr Al Watan.

2. Presidential Gifts Hall

Over the years, the UAE has received hundreds of diplomatic gifts from guests across the globe. You can see this impressive collection at the Presidential Gift Hall.

This zone houses priceless artifacts and other valuable gifts given to the country. These presents signify goodwill and mutual respect between the UAE and other nations.

Some of the important displays you can find here are:

• Hooded falcon masks from Germany
• Samurai armor from Japan
• Moon vase from Korea
• Traditional rifle from Kuwait
• Intricately designed carpet from Turkmenistan
• Holy Quran from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

You can also see a collection of gold wreaths, medals, and coins from different countries and historical periods, as well as religious manuscripts in this hall.

The display at the Presidential Gifts Hall gives you a glimpse of the diversity and culture of various countries across the world.

3. Spirit of Collaboration

The Spirit of Collaboration section was opened to the public in 2019 and houses one of the most iconic features in Qasr Al Watan: an immense, dazzling chandelier made of 350,000 pieces of crystal. It also has gold doors and a dome painted in blue, white, and gold.

This massive room serves as the official meeting place for the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It is also a venue for other important events.

Here, local officials and dignitaries gather to talk about their goals, visions, plans and put them into action.

When you visit this room, which has a circular shape that symbolizes the country’s emphasis on equality, you can learn about diplomacy and the protocols followed when it is used for meetings and events.

4. Presidential Banquet Hall

For years, the Presidential Banquet Hall has hosted world and local leaders, allowing them to experience the impressive hospitality and culinary delights the Emiratis are known for.

The banquet hall boasts striking traditional arches and unique collections of silver, crystal, and china dinnerware. It has a large official table, smaller round tables, and eye-catching blue chairs for the guests.

The banquet hall can seat up to 300 guests.

As you take a tour of this zone, you’ll learn about the dining and hospitality customs and protocols Emiratis practice during important meals and gatherings. These include rules on the menu to be served and where the Guest of Honor should be seated at the table.

5. House of Knowledge

The House of Knowledge houses a collection of the region’s most valuable artifacts and manuscripts, showcasing its contributions to science, astronomy, art, literature, and other fields.

You can find a replica of the Birmingham Quran manuscript dating back to the late sixth or early seventh century CE in the House of Knowledge. The display also includes the first modern and accurate map of the Arabian Peninsula, which is believed to have been made by the Venetian cartographer Giacomo Gastaldi.

The zone also houses a centuries-old Atlas astronomy manuscript, the Explanation of Lamiat Al-Zukak, which is a rare text on law, and Pliny’s Natural History encyclopedia.

Before stepping into the House of Knowledge, take the time to look at Mattar bin Lahej’s work of art. The Emirati artist’s sculpture is a calligraphic interpretation of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan’s most popular quote on wealth.

6. Qasr Al Watan Library

The biggest public library in Abu Dhabi houses over 50,000 books covering different ages of Arabian scholarship across various disciplines, including science, arts, history, and literature.

The library was established to preserve and share centuries of Arabian knowledge and culture with locals and guests. Its interior was designed to inspire people to read, learn, research, and write.

The library’s reading and learning materials include books, newspapers, magazines, dissertations, research articles, e-books, and other audio and visual content. All these were curated over 35 years and cover a wide array of subjects.

While here, guests can use the Internet, computers, and tablets for free. You can also access audio-visual resources, digital files, and other multimedia learning materials.

You can also join the guided library tour, learning camps, and panel discussions and watch live cultural performances.

Although this library is found inside Qasr Al Watan, membership is open to UAE residents and visitors. Members can also borrow books.

Qasr Al Watan’s other attractions and experiences you shouldn’t miss are the Palace in Motion show, A Memory from the Palace, and A Celebration of Acceptance. The palace also has an onsite restaurant and gift shop.

If your goal is to gain a deeper appreciation for the UAE’s history and culture, visit Qasr Al Watan.