Layover Tour to Qasr Al Watan and Emirates Palace

Qasr Al Watan is a working Presidential palace and a majestic cultural landmark that invites the world to discover the rich legacy of knowledge and tradition that has shaped the UAE's journey. Boosting cultural understanding of the nation and emphasising its incredible history, this is more than just a traditional palace. Qasr Al Watan is an exquisitely crafted tribute to Arabian heritage and artistry, with its architecture and design echoing the significance and function of the impressive exhibits and iconic rooms housed within its halls.

One of the palace's most impressive and unmissable attractions is the family-friendly Palace In Motion event, a spectacular light and sound show that celebrates the UAE's journey in three breathtaking acts that unfold in front of the main palace every 30 minutes after sundown, with the final entry taken 30 minutes before showtime. Timings are subject to change.

Aside from this magnificent show, the palace places a strong emphasis on learning and knowledge sharing. Here, visitors can expect to learn about the formation of the UAE, as well as the country's governing traditions and values, with this unique palace highlighting Arab contributions to various fields of knowledge and giving guests access to halls typically reserved for official summits.

The palace houses the Qasr Al Watan Library and House of Knowledge where history and culture buffs, as well as scholars, can explore a vast collection of books, manuscripts and other resources about the UAE, and learn about the nation's progressive journey. Other zones within the palace include A Memory of the Palace, where you can capture a commemorative photo in the palace's media room, as well as The Great Hall, an exquisitely crafted photo-worthy space boasting a central dome, archways, mosaic patterns and mirrored cubes. The Spirit of Collaboration area, meanwhile, sees entities such as the Federal Supreme Council, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council coming together to express ambitions, set agendas, and map the way forward. Visitors can learn about diplomacy and protocol as they admire the room's iconic chandelier and circular layout, which symbolises the UAE's commitment to illumination and equality.

The Presidential Banquet, meanwhile, reveals how UAE hosts the world, with this immaculately set banqueting hall welcoming VIP officials from around the globe and treating them to warm Emirati hospitality. Visitors to The Presidential Banquet enjoy an in-depth introduction to the customs, protocols and cuisine served here, as well as insights into the unique collections of silver, crystal and chinaware.

The palace also celebrates Abu Dhabi's achievements. On December 15th 2018, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance. A Celebration of Acceptance, a theme touched upon throughout the palace, highlights the UAE as a bridge of communication between cultures and a nation that expands opportunities for dialogue, while also showing the positive impact of tolerance on society.

If you are coming to the palace by car, go to the Visitor Centre to find the Visitor Centre car park. There is ample parking space available and there is no charge to park there. Valet parking is available at the Visitor Centre car park at a charge ofAED 80. Parking is openfrom 9:30am to 9:30pm, seven days a week.

Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi is where luxurious comfort, impeccable service and unique dining experiences come together in an enchanting setting. From a distance, the hotel looks like something out of an Arabian fairytale, with the main building alone stretching over one kilometre from one wing to the other and the gardens spreading across 100 hectares. Walking in, you will find a sense of deep relaxation washing over you. With a pristine 1.3km private beach, stunning pools, a private marina and natural bay, a beautiful spa and highly-rated dining venues - you can't go wrong with a holiday here.

Emirates Palace is one of the most remarkable buildings in Abu Dhabi when it comes to architecture. Picture this: During the day, the palace's golden exterior contrasts with the lush greenery, silvery water fountains, and crisp blue sky. And at night, the hotel's lighting changes subtly, with an ethereal rainbow effect displayed on the main dome. Featuring 114 domes, the palace's central dome is a striking 72.6 metres above the ground, meticulously crafted with gold, mother of pearl and crystals. The building also boasts 1,002 chandeliers - the largest weighing 2.5 tons - with other photo-worthy features, including two handmade wall displays portraying the palace.

Spread over three floors, the impressive 5,250-square-metre Abu Dhabi Children’s Library is a state-of-the-art space designed to inspire and entertain the young and the young at heart. Divided into immersive, age-appropriate social spaces, with one including a three-dimensional learn-and-play area, this hidden city gem encourages children to physically immerse themselves in a whimsical interior.

Every floor boasts a different design, with local and international visitors enjoying an open, friendly and inviting space featuring colourful creations inspired by the rich and diverse landscapes of the UAE. Funky features include soft faux sand dunes for kids to read on, an oasis with a falaj (ancient irrigation system) flowing with books, and a Book Mountain at the heart of the library. A large and diverse collection of books includes fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, autobiographies and audio-books.

Children are encouraged to talk, perform, play and interact with one another in collaborative, open spaces, with a number of quiet zones offering peaceful areas in which to read and study, encouraging concentration and focused learning.

A dedicated exhibition space has been designed to host exhibitions showcasing works created by children, with displays on offer for younger audiences too. Year-round programmes featuring literature, art, film and music make the Abu Dhabi Children's Library a vibrant and inspiring cultural hub for all.

When you enter Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, you will understand why it is such a special place. Here, people from all walks of life come together to take in the architecture's beauty and gain a deeper understanding of religion and culture in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque is one of the world's largest and was the vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - the Founding Father of the UAE. He envisaged the creation of a welcoming and cultural haven that inspires people from all backgrounds.

Even the construction was a cultural collaboration. The grand structure was designed and built by skilled teams from all over the world, including 1,300 Iranian artisans who hand-knotted the main prayer hall's carpet - the world's largest.

On your journey through the marbled halls, you'll see one-of-a-kind treasures, including gold-plated Swarovski chandeliers, the courtyard's vast marble mosaic artwork and reflective pools that mirror some of the many amethyst-and-jasper-embedded columns. When you're outside, look up to see the mosque's four stunning minarets that proudly stand at 106 metres.

This impressive and prestigious library is located in Qasr Al Watan, a working presidential palace and an important destination within the cultural landscape of Abu Dhabi. This is one of the few presidential headquarters in the world that has opened its doors to the public.

Qasr Al Watan Library reflects the UAE Vision 2021, which supports the knowledge economy to promote and sustain development through investment in minds and human resources. The library is an impressive addition to the rich, existing Abu Dhabi public library network, which provides sources of knowledge through the latest technologies and techniques. Qasr Al Watan Library is open to UAE nationals, residents and travelling visitors, and can be visited in person. A membership card provides access to all services.

The Qasr Al Watan Library boasts a large collection of knowledge resources in the fields of science and the arts within the UAE. Collected over 35 years, these publications cover subjects including history, geography and the social, economic and political development of the country. Official and historical documents from local and international sources are accessible alongside the Constitution and laws of the UAE. The library also houses publications from cultural institutions, research centres, official authorities and publishing houses from across the UAE. There are books on archaeology, history, heritage, memoirs, biographies, human and social sciences, statistics, administration, culture, literature, arts and other sources of public interest.

The publications have been carefully selected to meet the needs of scholars and researchers of all ages and disciplines. The growth and expansion of library holdings in the future will include interactive programmes that tap into a world of paper as well as electronic publishing and multimedia.

In addition to the library's comprehensive collection of books and resources, a series of community initiatives, including panel discussions and musical performances, stimulate dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The library allows readers to borrow printed and other materials through a membership system. The library’s staff provide a variety of services to access information and reference lists. They can train visitors on how to use the digital library and provide information about library programmes. Special tours enable visitors to learn about the library and its contents and understand how to make the most of its programmes and resources. The library provides internet access, computers and tablets to ensure efficient use of its e-services. The digital library offers many sources in various formats, such as print material and audio and video equipment, with library members being able to access them from anywhere in Abu Dhabi.

Offering an integrated reading experience, with resources available in Arabic, English and many other languages, Qasr Al Watan Library is home to printed books, e-books, audio and video books, periodicals, multimedia, university letters, research articles, newspapers and magazines, documents, encyclopaedias, book summaries, reference dictionaries, databases and rare manuscripts. The interior offers a comfortable research, reading and writing environment, housing modern rooms equipped with computers and search-friendly electronic resources.

Since its official opening in July 2016, Abu Dhabi’s space observatory, Al Sadeem Observatory, located in the middle of the desert in Al Wathba South, has delighted avid astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers.

The two founders, Thabet Al Qaissieh and Alejandro ‘Andy’ Palado, believe that it is a great way to get the community engaged in astronomy and hope that the observatory will become a place for all space enthusiasts in Abu Dhabi to go to learn about our incredible universe.

At Al Sadeem Observatory, you’re able to attend interesting lectures on space and astronomy that follow the STEM program, and indulge in planetary and deep sky observations. As part of its mission to help in nurturing space research in the country, Al Sadeem Observatory has been collaborating on researches with educational institutions and professional astronomers here and around the globe. The two-storey observatory consists of a 5,5 metre, 360-degree rotational dome made entirely of fibreglass, with a Meade LX850, 16-inch telescope mounted in the centre. You’ll find several highly-advanced telescopes inside that provide brilliant opportunities for stargazing and viewings of space.

*Closed on Sundays and open from 6:00 PM onwards

*The observatory is closed for visits during the summer from June to September
*Open for two weeks monthly, when the moon is bright

To the southwest of Al Jahili Fort near Al Jahili Oasis is a small mosque, with the inner fort built under the direction of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, also known as Zayed the First, at the end of the 19th century.

This historic building was originally constructed with earth blocks and palm log beams and probably dates back to the foundation of the fort in the 1890s. The building’s historic fabric survives intact below a layer of mud plaster recently added during a Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) conservation project. The mosque has a single room with an open arcade on the east side and is entered from an enclosed courtyard which, in the past, would have been covered during the summer months to provide additional shade. Within the courtyard there’s a low, stepped platform from which the call to prayer was made, and a small room which probably originally served for ritual ablutions.

In 2019, DCT collaborated with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments to provide an imam for the mosque, allowing it to renew the announcement of the call to prayer in the traditional manner from the raised platform.

If you're interested in sustainability and conservation, this city is a great place for you to visit. Initiated in 2008, Masdar is Abu Dhabi's pioneering vision of a city of the future. With the goal of becoming the world's most sustainable eco-city, Masdar is leading the way by developing a green print for how cities can accommodate rapid urbanisation and dramatically reduce energy, water and waste.