Qasr Al Watan is Abu Dhabi's presidential palace, open to visitors with tickets from AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for ages 4-17; allow 2-3 hours. The ticket covers the Great Hall, the gifts, the banquet hall, the gardens and, on the evenings it runs, the Palace in Motion light show. Knees and shoulders must be covered and flip-flops are not allowed. This guide covers ticket types, timing, the audio guide, getting there from Dubai and how the palace fits an Abu Dhabi day. Our tour drives past but does not go inside.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
How much is a Qasr Al Watan ticket?
From AED 65 for adults and from AED 30 for ages 4-17, with children 3 and under free. The general ticket includes the Palace in Motion light show when it runs, and the show alone starts from AED 25. Prices change, so check the official booking page.
This guide also answers:
- How long does a visit take?
- Can I visit Qasr Al Watan from Dubai in one day?
- Is photography allowed?
Five ways to shape a Qasr Al Watan visit
#1
The evening: Palace in Motion
A light and sound show projected onto the palace, telling the story of the country's past, present and future in three acts. The general ticket includes it on the dates it runs, and a show-only ticket starts from AED 25 for adults and AED 12 for juniors. Show times are updated monthly, so check the official opening-hours page for your date.
#2
The gardens and the walk in
The gardens have a mosaic star fountain and a palm-lined path leading to the white wings of the palace, and they are included with the general ticket. Food and drink may only be consumed in the restaurant areas and the gardens, not in the Great Hall or the exhibition rooms, so plan your coffee break around the gardens.
#3
Next door: Emirates Palace
The grand hotel on the western Corniche is the landmark most visitors photograph, and our Abu Dhabi tour stops there for photos. Non-guest visits are mostly for dining and have their own rules, so read our separate Emirates Palace guide before you plan one, and do not assume you can walk in at any hour.
#4
Old Abu Dhabi: Qasr Al Hosn
The whitewashed watchtower at Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest stone building in the city, and it tells the earlier story of Abu Dhabi before the oil years. It pairs well with Qasr Al Watan if you like history: one is the old seat of the rulers, the other the modern palace of government. Check its tickets and hours.
#5
Sunset on the Corniche
If you do not stay for the palace show, finish on the Corniche, where the towers glow at sunset and the sea breeze cools the evening. In summer it is the part of the day when walking outside becomes comfortable. Allow time for the drive back to Dubai, which takes 1.5-2 hours.
Qasr Al Watan: the short answer
Tickets start from AED 65 for adults and AED 30 for ages 4-17, children aged 3 and under are free, and a visit takes 2-3 hours. Qasr Al Watan is the working presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, opened to the public as a museum of the country's heritage and government. The general ticket covers the Great Hall, the exhibitions, the gardens and, when it runs on your date, the Palace in Motion light show.
It is worth a visit if you enjoy architecture, state rooms and stories about how the country is run, and it is air-conditioned, so it is a good choice in summer. It is less suited to travellers who want a quick photo stop or have very small children. Prices, hours and zones change, so check the official site before you go.
Tickets and extras
Buy online for your date; tickets are dated, one entry only and not refundable, and you receive them by email. There are two types of general ticket: Peak, which lets you enter at any time during opening hours, and Off Peak, where entry is limited to 1:00 PM-4:00 PM. The prices shown on the booking page start from the figures below, so compare the two types for your date.
| Ticket or extra | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General admission, adult | From AED 65 | Palace zones, gardens and the light show when it runs |
| General admission, junior (4-17) | From AED 30 | Government ID may be needed as proof of age |
| Children 3 and under | Free | Under-12s must be with an adult |
| Palace in Motion only | From AED 25 adult, AED 12 junior | Show only; the general ticket includes it |
| Audio guide | AED 20 | Up to 2 hours; Arabic, English, Mandarin, German or Russian; not for under-5s |
| Guided tour | AED 20 | About 30 minutes, up to 10 visitors per guide |
| Valet parking | AED 35 | Standard parking and the shuttle bus are free |
| Stroller hire | AED 20 | Wheelchairs are free of charge |
Prices are as shown on the official booking page and can change. The audio guide and tour are only valid with an entry ticket.
Once you leave the palace you cannot re-enter, so eat and use the restrooms before you go in. People of determination registered in the UAE enter free, and UAE residents aged 65 and over get a discount.
What you see inside
The route begins in the Great Hall, a vast space under a central dome about 37 metres across and 60 metres high, with the blue, white and yellow colours that run through the palace. Mirrored cubes in the corners let you look back into the hall, and it is the room most visitors photograph.
Other zones include the Presidential Gifts hall, which shows diplomatic gifts from around the world together with the protocol behind them; the Presidential Banquet hall, set for up to 300 guests with a very large collection of crystal and china; and the House of Knowledge with the Qasr Al Watan Library of some 50,000 books, plus rotating manuscript exhibitions. It is a working palace, so zones can close for official events or state visits. When we checked the official site in late October, one hall, Spirit of Collaboration, was marked as temporarily unavailable, so look at the zone list before you buy.
It is not a place to run around. The rooms are quiet, there are security checks, and the story is told in exhibits and displays rather than rides. For children, the gardens and the light show are the fun part.
When to go and how long to allow
Allow 2-3 hours inside, longer if you add the guided tour or stay for the evening show. Opening hours change by month and the last entry is at closing time, so confirm the times for your date on the official hours page before you plan.
| Plan | Entry | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Morning visit | Peak ticket, early | Fewer visitors and cooler gardens, usually |
| Lunch-time visit | Off Peak, 1-4 PM | A narrower entry window; compare the price |
| Late afternoon and show | Peak ticket | Palace and light show on one ticket; enter 30 minutes before |
| Show only | Palace in Motion ticket | From AED 25; no palace interior |
Show timings change each month; check the official hours page.
In July and August, the palace interiors are cool, but the gardens and the walk from the shuttle are hot, so go in the morning or stay for the evening. Abu Dhabi can feel a few degrees hotter than Dubai, and hours change during Ramadan.
Dress code and rules
Cover your knees and shoulders: shorts, sleeveless tops and see-through clothing are not allowed, and neither are flip-flops or very casual footwear. Dress respectfully in line with local customs. The same standard applies at the Grand Mosque, where the rules are stricter.
Non-commercial photography and filming are allowed and encouraged, but not in some areas and not during state visits. Tripods over about 15 inches or single-leg supports are not allowed. Outside food and drink are not allowed except bottled water, and nor are large bags that do not fit the airport-style scanners. Pets are not allowed. Mobile phones should be on silent.
Getting there from Dubai
The palace does not run transport, and visitors must arrange their own. By car it is 1.5-2 hours from Dubai to the western end of the Abu Dhabi Corniche, with free parking and a free shuttle bus; valet parking costs AED 35. A taxi or ride-hailing app can drop you at the palace, where you follow the signs to the visitor centre, and our guide to how to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi compares the bus, taxi and car for the long first leg.
A palace visit pairs well with the Louvre Abu Dhabi and with Emirates Palace for a coffee or a photo, but two indoor sights are plenty for a day. Our Abu Dhabi in one day guide shows how the capital's main stops fit together.
Our Abu Dhabi tour and the palace
Qasr Al Watan is not part of our tour. The Abu Dhabi city tour is from $45 per person, 9 hours, with an 8:00 AM hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman. The shared price covers the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with registration help, the BAPS Mandir and Heritage Village, with a Corniche drive and a photo stop at Emirates Palace, then a Ferrari World photo op and a lunch stop at Yas Mall. Paid attractions such as the palace are not included.
If the palace is your main reason for going, travel independently on a day when it suits you, or ask us on WhatsApp whether the private car, $245 for up to 7 guests with a flexible schedule, can fit a stop; we tell you what is possible before the day. The tour vs on your own guide helps you choose. There is no prepayment: you agree the date on WhatsApp and pay on the day.
Back in Dubai, the older story is told on the Old Dubai walking tour, from $35 per person for 3-4 hours through Al Fahidi, across the Creek by abra and through the Spice and Gold Souks. For a very different morning, the sunrise balloon is from $275, 4-5 hours, with a 30% deposit to confirm.
FAQ
How much is a Qasr Al Watan ticket?
From AED 65 for adults and from AED 30 for ages 4-17, with children 3 and under free. The general ticket includes the Palace in Motion light show when it runs, and the show alone starts from AED 25. Prices change, so check the official booking page.
How long does a visit take?
Allow 2-3 hours. The audio guide runs up to 2 hours, the guided tour about 30 minutes, and the evening show adds time if you stay.
What is the dress code at Qasr Al Watan?
Knees and shoulders must be covered. Shorts, sleeveless tops, see-through clothing, flip-flops and very casual shoes are not allowed. Dress respectfully.
Is Qasr Al Watan open every day?
Opening hours and show times are updated each month, and the last entry is at closing time. Check the official hours page for your date, especially around Ramadan and public holidays.
Can I visit Qasr Al Watan from Dubai in one day?
Yes, but it is a long day. The drive is 1.5-2 hours each way, so go independently, pair the palace with one other stop and leave early. Our tour does not enter the palace.
Is photography allowed?
Non-commercial photography and filming are allowed and encouraged in most areas. Small tripods are limited to about 15 inches, and some areas and state visits have restrictions.
Can I buy tickets at the palace?
Yes, at the ticket booth, but online is better for queues and for your date. Tickets are dated, one entry only and not refundable, so check the date before you pay.
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Photos: Old Abu Dhabi: Qasr Al Hosn — Darthjipsu, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).