Abu Dhabi Corniche
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi
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Photo: Darthjipsu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ≈ AED 30, under-18s free
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Sat–Thu 9:00–20:00, Fri 14:00–20:00
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 15 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Adult ticket (18+)
- About AED 30; from AED 31.50 at authorised reseller Platinumlist
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Under 18
- Free — the ticket is issued on site
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Free without a ticket
- House of Artisans, Cultural Foundation and the grounds
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Closed
- No weekly closing day; different hours during the Al Hosn Festival
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Where to buy
- Online on the official site or at the on-site ticket desk; non-refundable
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Luggage
- No lockers — keep your bags with you
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Parking
- Underground car park on the Al Hosn site
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Taxi drop-off
- Hamdan bin Mohammed Street
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Bus
- Route 40 to the Al Hosn Palace stop, pay with a Hafilat card
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Audio guide
- Free Abu Dhabi Culture app
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Address
- Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Oldeststone building in Abu Dhabi — the city grew around it
3 sourcesi
Qasr Al Hosn official websiteEnglish WikipediaThe National1761 or 1790sthe first watchtower went up — sources disagree
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English Wikipedia (1761)Qasr Al Hosn official website (around the 1790s)Coral and sea stonethe tower and inner fort are built from them
2 sourcesi
Qasr Al Hosn official websiteBDP, the restoration architectsFresh waterthe tower guarded the island's only freshwater source
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaQasr Al Hosn official website1793–1795walls were added and the fort became the Al Nahyan rulers' seat
2 sourcesi
English Wikipedia (1793)Qasr Al Hosn official website and BDP (1795)1930sthe outer palace, paid for by the first oil concession, tripled the site
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Qasr Al Hosn official website (1939 concession)English Wikipedia (late 1930s)BDP (1935)December 2018reopened after a restoration lasting more than a decade
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The National, 6 December 2018English WikipediaBDP4 partsfort, National Consultative Council, Cultural Foundation and House of Artisans
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The NationalEnglish WikipediaNot whiteoriginally: painted white in 1976–1983, the render was removed in the restoration
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English WikipediaQasr Al Hosn official websiteBarjeelthe traditional wind-tower ventilation was restored
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Qasr Al Hosn official websiteBDP“Palace fort”the meaning of the name Qasr Al Hosn
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English WikipediaQasr Al Hosn official websiteQasr Al Hosn tickets and opening hours
Adult entry is about AED 30, and under-18s get in free (they still collect a ticket on site). The official ticketing system of the Department of Culture and Tourism only shows prices inside its booking flow, so our figure comes from authorised resellers — from AED 31.50 at Platinumlist, from AED 30 elsewhere. Treat it as unofficial.
Hours are 9:00–20:00 Saturday to Thursday and 14:00–20:00 on Friday, with no weekly closing day. During Ramadan and the winter Al Hosn Festival the schedule changes.
Your ticket covers the fort itself — the inner fort and the outer palace. The House of Artisans, the Cultural Foundation and the open grounds are free. Workshops and performances are ticketed separately.
Book online or buy at the gate; on an ordinary day walk-up tickets are rarely a problem. Tickets are non-refundable, there's no re-entry, and each visitor needs their own QR code. Visa and Mastercard cards are taken almost everywhere in the UAE, but carry a few dirhams for small purchases.
How to get to Qasr Al Hosn
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
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.
More tips
- Abu Dhabi has no metro. From Zayed International Airport (AUH) a taxi, Uber or Careem takes about 30–35 minutes.
- From the Corniche hotels it’s about 1 km, a 10–15 minute walk south through the downtown grid (unofficial).
- By bus: route 40 to the Al Hosn Palace stop, then 3–5 minutes on foot. Buses take a Hafilat card only, not cash; check the route in the Darb app (unofficial).
- Taxi drivers should drop you on Hamdan bin Mohammed Street — the official drop-off point by the entrance.
- Driving? Use the underground car park on the Al Hosn site.
- Scan your QR code or buy at the ticket desk, then start with the inner fort.
Is Qasr Al Hosn worth visiting?
Yes — if you want to see what Abu Dhabi was before oil. It's the only place in the city where the old walls are original rather than a reconstruction, the entry fee is low, and you can do it properly in an hour or so.
Keep expectations in check: the rooms are modest and the collection is small; the building and its story do the work. With one day in Abu Dhabi, put the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque first and add the fort if you're downtown anyway. With children, the free House of Artisans and the Cultural Foundation's children's library are the easier wins.
What to see inside
- Inner fort and watchtower — the oldest part; start here so the story runs forward from pearl divers and fishermen.
- Outer palace — majlis rooms, family quarters, photographs and archives from the decades when desert still surrounded the fort.
- Bare coral-stone walls — look closely and you'll spot shells in the blocks.
- Barjeel wind towers — the natural air-conditioning of the Gulf, restored to working order.
- House of Artisans (free) — Sadu weaving, Khoos palm-frond plaiting and Talli embroidery, often with craftspeople at work.
- Cultural Foundation (free) — exhibitions and a children's library.
- National Consultative Council building — according to the official site, talks on forming the UAE took place here in 1971.
A short history of the fort
Abu Dhabi began here. The Bani Yas found fresh water on the island, and a watchtower of coral and sea stone went up to guard it — in 1761 according to Wikipedia, around the 1790s according to the fort's own site.
In the 1790s Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab moved his seat from the Liwa oasis to the island and the tower was walled in, creating the inner fort: home of the Al Nahyan family and the place the emirate was ruled from.
After the first oil concession in the 1930s, the outer palace was built around it, tripling the site. The walls were painted white in 1976–1983 — hence the nickname White Fort. A restoration lasting more than ten years removed that render so the coral could breathe again, and the fort reopened as a museum in December 2018.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Qasr Al Hosn vs Louvre Abu Dhabi vs Grand Mosque
| Qasr Al Hosnyou are here | Fort and rulers' palace | From the 18th century | Downtown, walkable from the Corniche | 1–1.5 h | Modest everyday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | Museum of world art | Agreement signed in 2007 | Saadiyat Island, by taxi | ≈ 2.5 h | Everyday |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | The UAE's largest mosque | Built 1994–2007 | Near the mainland bridges, by taxi | ≈ 1.5 h | Strict dress code |
The fort is Abu Dhabi before oil, the Louvre is art, the mosque is the city's signature sight. Short on time? Start with the mosque.
Historic sights in Abu Dhabi compared
Every historic sight in Abu Dhabi rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | 45 | 1 h 30 min | AED 10 for tourists, booked online | 14.4 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Village | 41 | 45 min | Free entry | 43 min walk |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | 40 | 2 h 30 min | AED 70, under 18 free | 7.3 km |
| Qasr Al Hosnyou are here | 38 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ AED 30, under-18s free | — |
| Qasr Al Watan | 35 | 2 h | AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30 | 5.5 km |
Old Abu Dhabi in a day
The fort, a walk along the Corniche, the Heritage Village and two palaces at the island's western tip. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Qasr Al Hosnyou are here1 h 15 min · ≈ AED 30, under-18s free
- 30 min walk from the previous stopAbu Dhabi Corniche1 h 30 min · Free; family beach sections AED 10
- 18 min walk from the previous stopHeritage Village45 min · Free entry
- 38 min walk from the previous stopEmirates Palace45 min · Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90
- 20 min walk from the previous stopQasr Al Watan2 h · AED 65, ages 4–17 AED 30
5 places · about 8 h 1 min with walks · 106 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Heritage Village
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
How to do it right
- Do the inner fort first, then the outer palace, and finish at the House of Artisans — the story runs in order that way.
- On a budget? The grounds, the House of Artisans and the Cultural Foundation are free.
- The audio guide lives in the free Abu Dhabi Culture app — bring your own earphones.
- Coming straight from the airport? Drop your bags first: there are no lockers.
- Walk on to the Corniche afterwards — it's close, and you'll catch sunset over the water.
- There's a prayer room (musalla) on site, near the restaurants.
Questions
How much is the Qasr Al Hosn ticket?
About AED 30 for adults — from AED 31.50 at the authorised reseller Platinumlist. Under-18s are free. The House of Artisans and Cultural Foundation need no ticket.
What are Qasr Al Hosn opening hours?
Saturday to Thursday 9:00–20:00, Friday 14:00–20:00. There's no weekly closing day; hours change during Ramadan and the Al Hosn Festival.
Is Qasr Al Hosn open on Friday?
Yes, but only from 14:00 to 20:00.
How do I get to Qasr Al Hosn?
It's right downtown: 10–15 minutes’ walk from the Corniche or 30–35 minutes by taxi from the airport. By bus, take route 40 to the Al Hosn Palace stop, paying with a Hafilat card.
How long do you need at Qasr Al Hosn?
1–1.5 hours for the fort; 2–2.5 hours if you add the House of Artisans and the Cultural Foundation.
Is Qasr Al Hosn worth visiting?
Yes, for Abu Dhabi's history — it's the city's oldest building. Don't expect grandeur or a big collection; with one day, see the Grand Mosque first.
Is there a dress code at Qasr Al Hosn?
Not a strict one like the mosque's. Ticket terms ask you to dress in line with UAE cultural values — covered shoulders and knees are the safe choice.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Yes, at the on-site ticket desk. Booking online helps on winter weekends and holidays. Tickets are non-refundable.
Is Qasr Al Hosn good for kids?
Yes: under-18s go free, and the Cultural Foundation next door has a children's library. Narrow passages in the fort make strollers awkward.
Is there parking at Qasr Al Hosn?
Yes, the Al Hosn site has an underground car park. Taxis drop off on Hamdan bin Mohammed Street.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Qasr Al Hosn official website: hours, free areas, parking, taxi drop-off, lockers, history — 03.11.2026
- English Wikipedia: Qasr Al Hosn; Wikidata Q7267042
- The National, 6 December 2018 — reopening after restoration
- BDP, restoration architects: Qasr Al Hosn reopens to the public
- Platinumlist and Ticket Fairy — ticket prices and terms (unofficial)
- Abu Dhabi Tickets and Headout — bus 40 and the Al Hosn Palace stop (unofficial)
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