Qasr Al-Watan invites the whole world to experience the priceless heritage of the knowledge and traditions of the United Arab Emirates.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, as well as His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held the opening ceremony of Qasr Al -Watan - the new cultural monument of the nation, located in the Presidential Palace in the capital of Abu Dhabi.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed emphasized that Qasr Al-Watan is an important symbol of the progressive development of the UAE, reflecting the intention of the leadership to strengthen cultural understanding among peoples.
His Excellency also expressed his intention to preserve the cultural and intellectual heritage of the nation and inspire future generations, instilling in them a deep sense of national pride, and to pay particular attention to the importance of continuing the policy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE, who sought to build up the UAE’s heritage with the help of cultural dialogue and openness.
Visitors to the new attraction of the UAE will be able to enrich their cultural experience by exploring all the premises of the Palace, starting from the Great Hall - the heart of the building.
In the western wing of the Palace, they learn about the formation of the UAE and its management system, visit the halls where official receptions of high-ranking officials usually take place, such as the “Spirit of Cooperation”, where meetings and official summits of the Federal Supreme Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of the UAE are held. Visitors will also be presented with a collection of diplomatic gifts received from heads of state and foreign statesmen, which is first exhibited for public access.
In Al-Barsha, visitors will learn about the traditional role of the Mejlis (which means “council” or “assembly”) - a place for cultural, political and public gatherings - with the help of an exciting multimedia show that sheds light on the continuation of the tradition historically followed by the rulers of the Emirates to edit in agreement with the people.
Continuing their journey to the House of Knowledge, in the eastern wing of the Palace, visitors find themselves in two rooms, which contain rare artifacts, books, manuscripts and monuments of the ancient Arab world. Visitors will also be able to see the main artifacts and historical maps representing the contribution of the most ancient Arabs to the development of science during the Enlightenment, called the Arab Golden Age.
The palace also houses the Qasr Al-Watan library, in which scientists can study a huge collection of more than 50,000 books about the UAE, as well as get information about the country's progressive path.
Qasr Al-Watan is open to visitors daily from 10:00 to 20:00, tickets can be purchased on-site and online on the official website of Qasr Al-Watan: www.QasrAlWatan.ae.
