Qasr Al Watan
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
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Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Hotel open 24 hours; Episodes lobby café daily 9:00–22:00, Café Fountain 15:00–midnight
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Lobby entry
- Free, no ticket; without a booking you may be turned away when busy or during events — unofficial
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Gold cappuccino
- AED 90 (Episodes Gold Cappuccino), service and taxes included
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Regular cappuccino
- AED 45
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Afternoon tea
- AED 245 per person
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Hotel tour
- 1 hour with an Emirati guide, AED 150 per person, coffee or cake included
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Episodes café
- Daily 9:00–22:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Café Fountain
- Daily 15:00–midnight
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Dress code
- Smart casual: no shorts, beachwear or flip-flops — unofficial
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Getting there
- Taxi from Qasr Al Hosn ≈ 10–15 min
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- West Corniche Road, Ras Al Akhdar
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
114 domescrown the wings and central building — the main dome is lined with gold
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English and Russian Wikipedia2005the year the hotel opened (sources differ on the month)
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English and Russian Wikipedia1.3 kmof private beach on the Gulf
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Emirates Palace Mandarin OrientalEnglish Wikipedia394rooms and suites across two wings and the central building
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English and Russian Wikipedia≈ US$3 bnconstruction cost — AED 11.02 billion
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English and Russian WikipediaWATGthe architects; lead architect John Elliott
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English and Russian WikipediaSince 2020run by Mandarin Oriental, previously by Kempinski
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English WikipediaEmirates Palace Mandarin OrientalGold, mother of pearl, crystalsdecorate the main dome
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Emirates Palace Mandarin OrientalNext doorQasr Al Watan, the presidential palace
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Emirates Palace Mandarin OrientalEnglish WikipediaCan you visit Emirates Palace without staying there?
Yes — there is no ticket. Non-guests are welcome in the lobby and public halls as café or restaurant customers. The easiest way in is coffee at Episodes, the café in the middle of the grand lobby (daily 9:00–22:00), or a drink at Café Fountain (15:00–midnight). Those hours come from the hotel’s own website.
There is no published rule for walk-in sightseers, so treat free access as unofficial. Security at the gate can turn people away on Fridays, Saturdays or during big events. A table booking through the hotel’s restaurant team removes the guesswork.
The beach, pools and spa are for hotel guests and club members. Beach day access is sold separately and changes by season — ask the hotel.
How much is the gold cappuccino?
The Episodes Gold Cappuccino is AED 90 on the official café menu, with service and taxes included. It is a cappuccino dusted with edible gold flakes. A plain cappuccino is AED 45, and the camel-milk Camelccino is AED 55.
For a longer stay, afternoon tea is AED 245 per person, more with a glass of champagne. You do not need it to see the building — one cup buys you time to take in the dome and get your photos.
Honestly, the coffee itself is just a good cappuccino; the gold is for the photo. Skip it and order a regular one if the ritual doesn’t matter to you — the room is the same.
Is there an official tour?
Yes. The hotel runs a one-hour Private Tour at the Palace led by an Emirati guide. It covers the main dome, a Palace Suite and the Etihad Ballroom or auditorium, and ends with a Palace cappuccino, cake or hot chocolate. It costs AED 150 per person; request it through the concierge.
It is the only way to see rooms beyond the lobby, and a booked tour also settles the question of getting past the gate.
How to get to Emirates Palace
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Qasr Al Watan is about 21 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Qasr Al Hosn downtown, take a taxi, Uber or Careem west along the Corniche — about 10–15 minutes.
- Ask for the main entrance of Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, not Qasr Al Watan: the gates are separate.
- By bus: route 34 runs from Qasr Al Watan through Ras Al Akhdar — check stops and times in the Darb app (unofficial).
- Buses take only the Hafilat card — buy one at the airport or a ticket machine; drivers don’t take cash.
- Walking the Corniche from downtown takes about an hour — fine on a winter evening, not at midday.
What is Emirates Palace?
Emirates Palace opened in 2005 as the capital’s grand hotel for state guests and big events. WATG designed it, and it cost around US$3 billion. Above it rise 114 domes; the central one is finished in gold, mother of pearl and crystals.
Mandarin Oriental took over from Kempinski in 2020 — the full name is now Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi. It has 394 rooms and suites, a 1.3 km private beach and a yacht marina.
For visitors, it is less a hotel than a landmark: the most photographed façade in Abu Dhabi after the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
What to see
- The main dome above the atrium — gold, mother of pearl and crystals, visible straight from the lobby.
- Episodes in the lobby — the café sits right in the centre, the best seat for the interior.
- The lamp-lined drive and palms — the classic façade shot, as in this page’s photo.
- The fountains in front of the entrance and the gardens facing the central building.
- Café Fountain — the hotel’s own pick for sunset over the city.
- Etihad Towers across the road — the Observation Deck at 300 on level 74 looks down on the palace.
Is Emirates Palace worth visiting?
Yes, if you are visiting Qasr Al Watan: it is right next door, so the hotel costs you a coffee and half an hour. It is the cheapest way to see Abu Dhabi’s grand-scale luxury from the inside.
Skip it if you have one day and little interest in interiors — a look at the façade on the way to the Corniche is enough. It isn’t worth a separate trip from Dubai; pair it with the palace and the mosque.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Emirates Palace vs Qasr Al Watan vs Etihad Towers
| Emirates Palaceyou are here | 2005 palace hotel | No ticket, via café or restaurant | Western end of the Corniche | 45–60 min | Smart casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qasr Al Watan | Presidential palace open to visitors | Paid ticket | Next door | Over an hour | Modest |
| Etihad Towers deck | Viewing deck on level 74 | Paid ticket with a café credit | Across the road | ≈ 1 h | Relaxed |
If you pick one, make it Qasr Al Watan — it is a proper museum. Emirates Palace is the bonus next door for coffee and the dome.
Abu Dhabi's palaces compared
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| Emirates Palaceyou are here | 41 | 45 min | Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90 | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qasr Al Hosn | 38 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ AED 30, under-18s free | 4.5 km |
| Qasr Al Watan | 35 | 2 h | AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30 | 20 min walk |
Two palaces and the Corniche in half a day
The old fort downtown, the presidential palace, coffee at Emirates Palace and sunset on the waterfront. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Qasr Al Hosn1 h 15 min · ≈ AED 30, under-18s free
- 95 min walk from the previous stopQasr Al Watan2 h · AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30
- 20 min walk from the previous stopEmirates Palaceyou are here45 min · Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90
- 48 min walk from the previous stopAbu Dhabi Corniche1 h 30 min · Free; family beach sections AED 10
4 places · about 8 h 13 min with walks · 163 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Heritage Village
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
How to do it right
- Come late afternoon: interiors in daylight, then sunset from Café Fountain and the façade lit up.
- Pair it with Qasr Al Watan — a couple of minutes by taxi.
- The best façade shots are from the lamp-lined drive or from afar — the Corniche or the Etihad Towers deck.
- Want the story, not just coffee? Book the one-hour hotel tour — you’ll see a suite and the ballroom.
- Don’t turn up with a beach bag and flip-flops, even if the beach is next on your list.
Questions
Can you go inside Emirates Palace if you're not a guest?
Usually yes: the lobby and public halls are open to café and restaurant customers, and there is no ticket. Entry isn’t guaranteed without a booking — reserve a table at Episodes to be safe.
How much is the gold cappuccino at Emirates Palace?
AED 90 at Episodes in the lobby, per the official menu, service and taxes included. A regular cappuccino is AED 45.
What is the Emirates Palace dress code?
Smart casual: long trousers or a skirt, no shorts, beachwear or flip-flops. This is unofficial — the hotel doesn’t publish a visitor dress code.
What are Emirates Palace visiting hours?
The hotel never closes; Episodes is open daily 9:00–22:00 and Café Fountain 15:00–midnight.
Does Emirates Palace offer tours?
Yes — a one-hour tour with an Emirati guide covering the main dome, a suite and the ballroom, ending with coffee or cake. AED 150 per person, booked through the concierge.
How do I get to Emirates Palace?
Taxi, Uber or Careem — 10–15 minutes from downtown, about 30 minutes from Zayed International Airport (AUH).
How long do you need at Emirates Palace?
45–60 minutes for coffee and the lobby; an hour for the guided tour.
Can non-guests use the Emirates Palace beach?
The beach is for hotel guests and club members. Day access is sold separately and varies by season — check with the hotel.
Is Emirates Palace next to Qasr Al Watan?
Yes, they are neighbours at the western end of the Corniche in Ras Al Akhdar, with separate entrances.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, official website: address, beach, Episodes and Café Fountain hours, Private Tour at the Palace, 03.11.2026
- Official Episodes menus (Deli Anytime, Afternoon Tea): coffee and tea prices, 03.11.2026
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Emirates Palace; Wikidata Q1337845
- English Wikipedia: Abu Dhabi bus service — route 034 and the Hafilat card
- AAA TripCanvas: Emirates Palace — access for non-guests
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