Qasr Al Hosn
قصر الحصن
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building, with an 18th-century watchtower and ruler's palace that tell the story of the city's rise from a pearling village to capital.
Qasr Al Hosn was begun around the 1760s as a watchtower guarding the island's only freshwater source. It was gradually expanded into the residence of the Al Nahyan rulers and the seat of government, and remained so until 1966. It is Abu Dhabi's oldest and most important surviving historic building. After more than a decade of restoration, it reopened as a museum in 2018. Its walls, towers and courtyards, built of white coral stone and beach stone, stand out sharply among the surrounding skyscrapers. Exhibits use artefacts, old photographs and multimedia to trace Abu Dhabi's development from a village of pearl diving and fishing into a modern capital. The same complex includes the Cultural Foundation building and the House of Artisans, where you can see traditional Emirati crafts such as weaving and pottery. Admission is about AED 30 (check the official website). It sits in the city centre, about a 15-minute walk from the Corniche.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–20:00; closed Mondays (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Abu Dhabi Corniche
- Heritage Village
- Mina Zayed Fish Market & Dhow Harbour
- Umm Al Emarat Park
- Etihad Towers Observation Deck at 300
- Emirates Palace
- Qasr Al Watan
- Mangrove National Park