INSIDE THE PALACE: A GUIDED TOUR
1 The Great Hall Visitors will be able to enjoy an enriching journey throughout their tour at the Palace, beginning at The Great Hall — the heart of the building that measures 100x100 metres. The highlight of The Great Hall is the main dome — one of the largest in the world, measuring 37 metres in diameter. Visitors will be able to closely explore the elements of the hall’s intricate design through four art installations, mirrored cubes that emphasise its architectural details, such as the diversity of patterns and intricate craftsmanship invested in every single pattern and design
2 Spirit of Collaboration
This room was designed to host meetings of the Federal Supreme Council, as well as meetings and summits of organisations such as the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
3 The Presidential Banquet
Banquets in this hall are reserved for official occasions, but they are also an opportunity to extend Emirati hospitality to representatives of close nations and allies. About 149,000 unique pieces of silver and crystal were made for the palace
4 Presidential Gifts
This exhibition showcases part of the collection of diplomatic gifts the UAE has received from foreign dignitaries during state visits, including beautiful clothes from the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. When choosing official gifts, the three main things that are taken into consideration are: Culture, religion and personal taste
5 House of Knowledge
Continuing their journey to the House of Knowledge in the east wing of the palace, visitors will have access to two rooms featuring rare artefacts, books, manuscripts, including The Birmingham Quran, the Atlas Manuscript on Astronomy and Explanation of Lamiat Al Zukak on law and judiciary rules and antiquities from the Arab world. Visitors will also be able to view key artefacts and historic maps that represent some of the earliest Arab contributions to human knowledge during the period of enlightenment referred to as the Arab Golden Age
6 Al Barza
At Al Barza, visitors will learn about the traditional role of a Majlis — a space for cultural, political and social gatherings — through an engaging multimedia show that sheds light on the continuation of a tradition historically followed by Emirati leaders to govern with the consensus of their people
7 Qasr Al Watan Library
The palace houses Qasr Al Watan Library where visitors can explore a collection of over 50,000 books and resources about the UAE and learn about the nation’s progressive journey. The library houses travelogues, books on history, architecture, biology and ethnography. It also features a digital library of over 16 million items, which can be accessed online from anywhere within the emirate of Abu Dhabi
8 Palace in Motion (A light and sound show)
In the evening, visitors will enjoy a magnificent light and sound show that will be projected onto the façade of the iconic building. A story told in three acts, the show draws a link between the aspirations of Qasr Al Watan and the vision of the nation, reflecting on the UAE’s journey from the past to its present and the future