Qasr Al Hosn
Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi’s oldest standing structure. Surrounded by the city’s shimmering skyline, the sight really is a perfect mesh of the past meeting the present.
Once home to the ruling family, it was built in the 1790s. It once held the National Consultative Council, established by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE. Vigorous preservation and elegant restorative work helped metamorphosed it into a museum in 2018.
The Inner Fort, built in 1795 and the Outer Palace constructed between 1939-45 are the very first buildings you will lay your eyes on. The original watchtower is what is visible overlooking them. Qasr Al Hosn defended the population of the island and trade routes on the coast at the beginning when Abu Dhabi was just a tiny fishing village. The charm that permeates every aspect of the structures makes it very hard to leave behind when you stroll through. The archival materials and artefacts from 6000 years ago, help you soak-in the rich history of the UAE, making hours seem like minutes. Even children find exploring here, a most thrilling experience.
Today it stands as a visual representation of Abu Dhabi’s history.
House of Artisans
Tucked within the Qasr Al Hosn, it is a fetching center of culture and craft. Here you have the option to partake in the Emirates’ heritage by attending a training course or workshop or even attending a public crafts event.
The French luxury association Comité Colbert comprising infamous brands like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and others was intrigued by the heritage and sophisticated works displayed here. To encourage a cross-cultural exchange between France and the UAE, in 2019 they worked together with the center’s local artisans. The Emirati identity is preserved with a craft passed down from one generation to the next and a partnership like this one just aide cement it even more.
Bedouin women created distinctive designs using sheep, camel, and goat wool in a traditional form of weaving called Al-Sadu. Khoos entails making functional objects materialize out of date palm leaves woven or braided together. Emirati women also engross themselves with Talli, a traditional form of decorative embroidery.