Qasr Al Watan

Qasr Al Watan, whose name translates to Palace of the Nation, is the ceremonial palace within Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Palace complex, built from granite and limestone and finished with more than 5,000 geometric patterns across its interior surfaces. Doors throughout the palace are decorated in 23-carat gold, and the level of detail in the stonework and inlay reflects a building designed to represent governance and knowledge rather than serve as a private residence.

The Great Hall

At the heart of the palace, the Great Hall is capped by a central dome larger than that of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, ringed with mirrored cubes, curved glass panels and detailed marble work that catches light differently depending on where you stand beneath it. It is the visual centrepiece of the building and the space most visitors photograph first.

Galleries and Grounds

Beyond the Great Hall, the Presidential Gifts hall displays items exchanged with foreign dignitaries, while the House of Knowledge contains the Power of Words, a calligraphic sculpture depicting the words of the UAE’s founding president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Presidential Banquet hall and a library dedicated to Arabian history and culture round out the interior, while landscaped gardens, courtyards and fountains surround the building outside.