Abu Dhabi — Qasr Al Watan Palace Part 1

Over the preceding three weeks I presented to you the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (For the beginning of that series see: Abu Dhabi — Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Part 1) Over the next three weeks it is time to move on to another stunning Abu Dhabi site — Qasr Al Watan Palace. For additional information, click on any of the links at the bottom of today’s article.

Qasr Al Watan is the presidential palace of the United Arab Emirates. But unlike most presidential palaces, Qasr Al Watan is not a residential palace; it is a cultural center built for state functions — conferences, receptions, ceremonies, banquets, etc. Construction of the palace was completed in 2017. The exterior is constructed of white granite and limestone, and the courtyard is tiled in an intricate, large-scale, geometric design. Surrounding the courtyard are a series of arched structures such as this:

The roof of the palace displays many domes, including the dome over the entranceway:

The palace is simply gargantuan in scope, and is divided into two main wings. The east wing is cultural; it houses artifacts and an impressive 50,000-book library. The west wing is the working side of the house. It is here that most of the state functions are conducted. And now let us head on inside for a look-see, beginning with the entrance:

It’s quite a spectacular entrance, with high ceilings and beautiful adornments in the tiled floors and walls:

On Wednesday I’ll show you a bit more of the exterior, and then get serious about presenting the interior areas. Until then, let’s take a closeup look at the ceiling detail:

For additional information on the Qasr Al Watan Palace see:
● Qasr Al Watan Palace
● Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi site
● Qasr Al Watan official website
● Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
● Islamic architecture
● Abu Dhabi
● United Arab Emerates
● Arabian Peninsula
● Middle East

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