Qasr Al Hosn

Opened to the public in 2018, Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi, housing the city’s first permanent structure: the watchtower. Built around the 1790s, the commanding structure overlooked the coastal trade routes and protected the growing settlement established on the island. Qasr Al Hosn is now a museum displaying artefacts and archival materials dating back as far as 6000 BC.

The Qasr Al Hosn visitor experience includes the House of Artisans and the Cultural Foundation. The Cultural Foundation was established by the late Sheikh Zayed in 1981 and reopened in 2018 as a centre for contemporary culture and cultural exchange.