AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Qasr Al Watan is the UAE Presidential Palace opened to visitors in Abu Dhabi, and it is one of the rare places on earth where you can walk through a working head-of-state building, admire halls where world leaders have shaken hands, and watch a nightly light show illuminate the same façade. The name translates to Palace of the Nation, and within its vast marble-and-gold interiors you find the formal offices of the UAE President and Vice President, meeting rooms of the Federal Supreme Council, a library packed with manuscripts on Arab science and governance, and interactive exhibits that trace the country's founding story. The architecture alone is reason enough to go: sweeping domes, intricate geometric patterns, and a golden dome that catches the desert sun from across the Corniche.↗↗↗
For a first-time Abu Dhabi visitor, Qasr Al Watan slots naturally into a culture-and-architecture day, pairing well with the nearby Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the waterfront Corniche. Allow around two hours to explore at your own pace with an audio guide available in five languages, then stay until dark if you can, because the Palace in Motion light show transforms the entire complex into a moving canvas of projected history, culture and future vision.
