Opening of Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Watan embodies a unique civilized and cultural edifice that narrates chapters of glory and the ancient history of the land of tolerance and hope and reflects the march of achievement and progress in the homeland of high aspirations through the cultural and historical heritage that the UAE abounds in to represent a new knowledge bridge for cultural and human communication between peoples.

Qasr Al Watan, which was inaugurated yesterday, bears among its flanks the authenticity of the heritage, the fragrance of the past and the vision of the present for a more prosperous future through its high wings, which include a group of antiques and historical manuscripts that highlight the Emirati and Arab contributions in various fields of human civilization, including sciences, arts and literature.

The great hall in “Qasr Al Watan” is the heart of the place. It is the largest hall in the palace. It has been designated for holding ceremonies and official receptions in it. The length and width of the hall is 100 meters, while the diameter of the main dome is 37 meters, and it is one of the largest domes in the world. According to what Amal Al Dhaheri, the tourist guide at Qasr Al Watan, explained, during the media tour that was organized yesterday morning, to the media. An engineering design was also adopted in the hall based on dividing the walls into three levels, with the aim of showing the hall’s structure; The first level is 6.1 meters high, the second is 15.5 meters, and the third is 21 meters, while the walls of the hall and the palace in general are decorated with various Islamic and Arab engineering and architectural designs, most notably the eight-star and the muqarnas.

The great hall leads to the “Barza” or Majlis, in which the ruler and the leader meet with his people, listen to them, and meet their needs and demands. The architectural design of Al Barza was inspired by its meaning and the values ​​that prevail in it, as the ceiling was inspired by the intertwining hands, which symbolize interdependence, cohesion and communication, as it resembles the drop-down curtains in the tents in which the councils are held, while the columns were inspired by the hot water springs and the way the water rushes in them. Al Barza is the second largest hall of the "Qasr Al Watan" after the Great Hall, and it can host 300 guests, and visitors can watch a five-minute video presentation that reviews the history of the Majlis in the UAE.

The spirit of cooperation

Topping the western section of “Qasr Al Watan” is the “Spirit of Cooperation” hall, which has been designated to host the sessions of the Supreme Council of the Union, in addition to summits and official meetings, such as the meetings of the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The hall is characterized by its circular design, which represents equal status. The meeting was designed by presidents and leaders, and the hall was designed gradually in the form of an open theater, so that those in it could follow the course of the sessions held. In the middle of the hall’s ceiling is a dome decorated with a layer of internal inscriptions of 23-carat gold leaf. A 12-ton chandelier hangs from it. It consists of three layers, and contains 350 crystal pieces. Due to the enormity of the chandelier, it was installed inside the hall before it was hung, and in addition to its function. aesthetic; The chandelier plays the practical role of absorbing hustle and bustle in the hall. The West Wing also includes the Presidential Gifts Hall, which includes a special set of diplomatic gifts presented to the United Arab Emirates, which are presented to the public for the first time. It embodies the friendly relations that unite the country with various countries of the world, as well as the culture and economic values ​​of the countries that provide it. On the other hand, is located the Presidential Table Hall, in which banquets are served on official occasions, which reflects the Emirati hospitality in what is offered to representatives of brotherly and friendly countries. The hall includes 149 silver and crystal pieces specially designed for Qasr Al Watan.

Palace Library

As for the eastern wing of the "Qasr Al Watan", it is headed by the "Al Qasr Library", which contains more than 50 books, and constitutes a main destination for those looking for knowledge sources concerned with the UAE. Highlighting the golden age of Arab civilization and its contributions in various fields of human knowledge such as sciences, arts and literature, most notably a group of ancient manuscripts dating back several centuries from different parts of the Arab world, including the Birmingham manuscript of the Holy Qur’an, and the manuscript atlas in astronomy, He explained the illiteracy of the alleys of jurisprudence and due process. It also displays in the House of Knowledge the first modern map of the Arabian Peninsula from 1561, drawn by the Italian Giacomo Gastaldi, using information collected by Portuguese explorers. It is believed to be the first map bearing the name of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Most of the manuscripts on display are considered rare, whether in terms of subject matter, form or copy. In line with the “Year of Tolerance”; "Qasr al-Watan" displays the three divine books: the Holy Qur'an, the Bible and the Psalms of David side by side.

In the middle of the eastern wing is an artwork entitled “The Energy of Speech”, by the artist Matar bin Lahej, and it constitutes one of the sayings of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, which is “Real wealth is the wealth of men, not money and oil, and there is no use in money if it is not It is dedicated to serving the people.”

In addition to the pavilions and halls of the palace, it presents its visitors with a light and sound show entitled “The Palace in Motion”, highlighting the splendor and splendor of the palace, and reviewing the march of progress in the United Arab Emirates, through a visual journey of three chapters, which transports the visitor from the country’s ancient history to Its bright present, and its vision for a more prosperous future.

Figures from "Qasr Al Watan"

Qasr Al Watan took 150 million hours to build, and its facade was built of white granite and limestone, lasting hundreds of years. The white color was chosen as a symbol of purity and peace, and given that the colors of buildings in coastal Gulf countries are usually white and light brown. 5000 different geometric, natural and plant shapes were used to decorate the palace and its walls. While the doors of the palace were made of solid maple wood, for its durability and light color, and it is characterized by the inscriptions that were executed manually, and they are decorated with French 23 carat gold, and it took 350 hours to make each door.

Zayed and the media

At the entrance to the "Qasr Al Watan" is a hall for government press conferences, with an invitation to visitors to the palace to stop and take memorial photos in the hall entitled "Memorial from the Palace". The hall also indicates the keenness of the late Sheikh Zayed, may his soul rest in peace, to communicate with the media, where he received During his rule, journalists and media figures from all over the world, and during the press interviews conducted with him, showed his leadership personality, wisdom and foresight. The hall also includes a picture of Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, speaking to a journalist from the French TV station in November 1971.