Whitewashed battlements and round watchtower of Qasr al Hosn fort with the UAE flag flying.
Qasr Al Hosn's round tower floodlit against a deep blue evening sky
The fort's lit arcades and courtyard at dusk with Abu Dhabi towers behind
The angular Cultural Foundation building beside the fort

Qasr Al Hosn Entrance Ticket

1 hour

Easy

Abu Dhabi's oldest building - an 18th-century coral-stone watchtower and fort, now a museum of the city's history.
Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest standing structure in Abu Dhabi and the reason the city is where it is: a watchtower raised in the 1760s from coral stone and sea rock to guard the freshwater well on the island. The fort grew around it, and over two and a half centuries it served as the ruling family's home, the seat of government, the consultative council and the national archive before being restored and opened as a museum. The exhibitions trace that arc directly - objects, photographs, oral histories and archival material showing the shift from a pearling and fishing settlement to a modern capital, all inside the building where most of it was decided. The white outer fort and the older inner fort are both open, and the surrounding site holds the House of Artisans, where traditional weaving, palm-frond craft and other Emirati skills are demonstrated by working craftspeople. Allow about an hour for the fort itself. It is a short walk from the Corniche and central Abu Dhabi, and tickets are sent to you ahead of your visit.
What's included?
  • Entry or admission fee
Entrance Ticket
Exclusions
    Personal Expenses
    Please note
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Accessible for those with limited mobility
    • Qasr Al Hosn is in central Abu Dhabi, near the Corniche - around 90 minutes' drive from Dubai.
    • Children under 18 enter free. Book adult tickets only for the adults in your party; the free under-18 admission is issued at the ticket desk on arrival, and proof of the child's age may be requested.
    • Admission to the House of Artisans, the Cultural Foundation and the outdoor landscape is free for everyone; only the fort itself needs a ticket.
    • Allow about 90 minutes for the fort and its exhibitions, longer if you also want the craft demonstrations at the House of Artisans.
    • Modest dress is appropriate for a heritage site: shoulders and knees covered.
    • The courtyards between the inner and outer forts are open to the sun, so bring a hat in summer.
    • The site is largely accessible, with ramps and level routes, though a few historic thresholds remain; ask the visitor experience team at ticketing if you need assistance.
    • There is underground parking on site, and taxis drop off on Hamdan bin Mohammed Street.
    • Photography is permitted without flash.
    • Check current opening hours before travelling, as the site closes on some public holidays.
    • Your ticket is sent to the email address and WhatsApp number you give when booking, so please make sure both are correct. If you are booking for today or tomorrow, contact us using the details in your booking confirmation so we can confirm your ticket reaches you in time.
    What to bring