Qasr Al Hosn – Abu Dhabi’s history and legacy Discover the ancestral home of the Al Nahyan Royal Family at this national monument in Abu Dhabi

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. Qasr Al Hosn is part of a larger historic complex that also includes the National Consultative Council building and the Cultural Foundation.

History 
Qasr Al Hosn is the most significant and oldest building in Abu Dhabi, holding the city's first permanent structure, the watchtower. Built in 1790, the commanding structure overlooked the coastal trade routes and protected the growing settlement established on the island. Qasr Al Hosn comprises two major buildings: the Inner Fort (originally constructed in 1795) and the Outer Palace (1939-45). Transformed into a museum in 2018 following more than 11 years of intensive conservation and restoration work, Qasr Al Hosn is a national monument in Abu Dhabi that encapsulates the development of the city from a settlement reliant on fishing and pearling in the 18th century, to a modern, global metropolis, with displays of artefacts and archival materials dating back to as far as 6000 BC.