To enhance the visitor experience at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan, self-guided tours have been made available in English, Arabic, German, Russian and Chinese.
Visitors can rent a multimedia guide and headset at the palace’s ticketing booth, and then take it with them as they navigate the site. They will be able to listen to pre-recorded audio clips in their language of choice as they are guided on an interactive cultural journey.
Located in Abu Dhabi’s presidential palace compound, Qasr Al Watan, or the Palace of the Nation, offers an opportunity to explore the history, traditions and journey of the UAE, through a vast collection of cultural artefacts, art and rare manuscripts.
The palace is divided into a series of zones, including the Great Hall, remarkable for its grand central dome, archways, ornamentation and mosaic patterns, which are a testament to Arabian craftsmanship and artistry.
A zone dedicated to presidential gifts is a marker of the goodwill shared by the UAE and the world, and allows visitors to get up close to some of the most cherished diplomatic gifts received by the UAE. Visitors can also learn about the cultural considerations and protocols that are involved in selecting diplomatic gifts.
Meanwhile, in the presidential banquet zone, where officials from around the world are treated to a taste of Emirati hospitality, visitors can learn about the customs, protocols and cuisine served, and see the silver, crystal and china used by dignitaries.
In 2020, Qasr Al Watan was recognised by the Middle East and North Africa Leisure & Attractions Council as the Best Unique Visitor Attraction, and was also named Middle East's Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards.
Qasr Al Watan is open on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am-6pm, and from Thursday to Saturday, 12pm-7.30pm.
Tickets can be bought online at www.qasralwatan.ae.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
