Prime Minister and Crown Prince open Qasr Al Watan – Abu Dhabi's new cultural landmark

The site will be the newest attraction in the UAE

The UAE leaders leave after touring Qasr Al Watan. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, centre right, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, centre left, enjoy the opening of Qasr Al Watan. Seen with Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, watch a light show projected onto Qasr Al Watan during the opening of the palace.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tour Qasr Al Watan. Seen with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member. All photos by Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - March 10, 2019: The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan. ( Mohamed Al Raeesi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs ) ---

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

A bird's-eye view of Qasr Al Watan.

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

Maj Gen Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy National Security Adviser, right, and Saif Ghobash, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, tour the Library.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Dubai, right, Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, left, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed attend the inauguration.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid tour the library.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed attends the Qasr Al Watan opening ceremony with Maryam Al Mheiri, CEO of Media Zone Authority & and twofour54 and Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Jaber Al Suwaidi, General Director of the Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance and Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Ma Gen Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Ahmed Al Zaabi, UAE Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (back) attend the inauguration.

From right to left, Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State, Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Reem Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Najla Al Awar, former UAE Minister of Community Development, attend the inauguration.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed , Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attend the inauguration of Qasr Al Watan.

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, right, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, tour the Presidential Gifts Exhibition, at Qasr Al Watan.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - March 10, 2019: HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah (L), HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs (2nd L), HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman (3rd L) and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (R), tour the Qasr Al Watan. ( Mohamed Al Raeesi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs ) ---

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Qasr Al Watan.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - March 10, 2019: (L-R) HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, attend the inauguration of Qasr Al Watan. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs ) ---

The opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan.

Qasr Al Watan will open to the public at noon on Monday 11 March, 2019.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed opened Qasr Al Watan, the nation’s newest cultural landmark, in the Presidential Palace compound on Sunday.

The Ruler of Dubai together with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, led the opening ceremony.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the UAE's cultural legacy was a precious asset that demanded respect. Sheikh Mohamed underscored its significance in empowering and inspiring future generations by instilling a deep sense of national pride.

The building will open to the public from noon on Monday, before opening daily between 10am and 8pm.

Visitors will be able to tour the site and see a library that is home to vast collection of books and resources on the UAE's political, social and cultural history.

Guests will also be able to experience interactive cultural exhibitions. In the west wing, they will learn about the formation of the UAE and its governance, and have access to halls typically reserved for official summits.

In the House of Knowledge in the east wing, visitors can explore a vast collection of artefacts and rare manuscripts that highlight the Arab world’s contributions to fields including science, arts, humanities and literature.

The Presidential Palace is home to the formal offices of the President, Vice President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

The venue has hosted a number of global leaders since 2015, including Pope Francis and Xi Jingping, the president of China.