A Lesson in Craftsmanship - Two Hours at Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi
The UAE Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, was completed in 2017 and opened to the public in 2019. Arriving feels ceremonial: you’re taken by coach through discreet security to the main square, and for a moment the ordinary world falls away. The approach alone prepares that you are getting ready for something extraordinary - when you disembark you understand just why this is one of the most prestigious landmarks in the entire region.
On a very hot day I stayed within the covered walkway, but a couple of minutes walk brought me to a pair of enormous doors. They are opened for you with a warm smile and you step into another temper of time. Under the first dome the eye has nowhere to settle; the detail is everywhere - on the walls, underfoot and, most of all, above. (You will spend a considerable part of the tour looking up.) The Great Hall’s central dome is colossal: at 37 m (121 ft) across it gives a truly vertiginous sense of scale. In that moment I thought of St Paul’s Cathedral - the same breathless tilt of head that makes you quiet. You can wonder around the wings of the palace in any direction you are called, whether it be to see The Presidential Gifts/the staged Banquet/State Meeting Room/The Qasr Al Watan Library, a map here showcases the zones so you can plan to see all the marvels that the palace holds inside.
The palace’s palette is really one of my personal favourites: creams, opulent golds and a steady, measured blue thread throughout the interiors. It is a restrained palette of colour that reads both contemporary and timeless. Nothing shouts; everything commands. The endless repetition of geometric patterns - carved stone, wood, and mosaic are a lesson in patience and calibration. There are no loose ends. This is craft translated into architecture on a scale I had never imagined.
I found the diplomatic collection quietly powerful and deeply human. Among the gifts on display are objects that carry stories heavier than their weight, two that resonated especially: a ceremonial key to Gaza from the State of Palestine and a large amber piece from Ukraine. Their presence felt, to me, both poignant and charged - a reminder that today’s headlines will be tomorrow’s history. What struck me most was how the monumental scale of the building never undermined the intimacy of this collection. You can be dwarfed by the dome and moments later feel compelled to lean in toward a tiny hand-turned detail.
Practicalities: the palace is accessible and modestly priced (around 65 AED / £12 in 2025) and sits next to the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace Hotel. (A taxi on the Careem app from the main city will cost you around 35-50 AED / £7-£10) - The team, from coach drivers to guides and security, were most courteous and professional and the whole visit has a calm, respectful energy.
Two hours is the perfect window to see and reflect. Dress respectfully; large bags and smoking are not allowed. Photography is welcomed with discretion. Bring time to stand and simply look - I challenge you to be anything other than mesmerised.
Why it matters to creatives and curators
Qasr Al Watan felt like a masterclass in visual authority: the best work commands a room without shouting, favouring exactitude and proportion over spectacle. That principle informs the artists I work with, the pieces I create and the hospitality programmes I design - work that elevates place and invites reflection. The architectural accomplishments of The UAE are without question visually inspiring - a prime example to discover is William Storey’s Tapestry of the Emirates (2025), created collaboratively : a dimensional, woven dreamscape of skyline, architecture and geometric pattern that links past, present and future influences with elegant restraint.
I have included a small gallery of photographs from my visit - moments that stayed with me. I thoroughly encourage you to visit this spectacular architectural wonder and make your own memories on your next visit to The UAE - if you’re staying in Dubai there are also several affordable day tours available to Abu Dhabi.
To Book Directly and learn more - visit the website here to secure your tickets
Leave a comment