Abu Dhabi: The historic district of Qasr Al Hosn reopens its doors to the public

Many Abu Dhabi residents this week received a mysterious message on their mobile phones: “Qasr Al Hosn”. This mystery was quickly solved after the announcement made by the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture and Tourism: the reopening of the historic Qasr Al Hosn district on the 7th December, after several years of renovation.

This official launch took the form of a celebration of the city’s history and culture, with free visits, exhibitions and musical performances that bring the history of the site back to life. Similarly, several activities are offered to visitors to help them discover or rediscover traditional Talli embroidery, rope making or weaving.

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‎مر قصر الحصن بالعديد من المراحل على مدار السنين فقد كان مقراً للحكم ومنزلاً للأسرة الحاكمة وملتقىً للحكومة ومجلساً استشارياً وأرشيفاً وطنياً، فبات يمثل القلب النابض في أبوظبي والشاهد الحي على محطات تاريخها العريق. #قصر_الحصن Over the centuries, Qasr Al Hosn has been home to the ruling family, the seat of government, a consultative council and a national archive; it now stands as the nation’s living memorial and the narrator of Abu Dhabi’s history. #QasrAlHosn

A post shared by Qasr Al Hosn (@qasralhosn) on Nov 15, 2018 at 6:43am PST

Qasr Al Hosn, an original urban block in Abu Dhabi

Covered with an immaculate white color that stands out in the Abu Dhabi urban landscape, the historic district of Qasr Al Hosn consists of four interdependent elements: a historic fort built around 1795, in which an exhibition retracing the history of Qasr Al Hosn and historical events enriches the the discovery of the district, a building of the National Advisory Council, the Artisans’ House, and finally, a cultural foundation that will host until December 15 a series of events dedicated to the visual arts as well as an exhibition dedicated to Emirati artists entitled Artists and the Cultural Foundation: The Early Years.