Sights · Our pick in Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Hosn
The oldest stone building
The watchtower and fort where Abu Dhabi began, now a museum at the heart of the Al Hosn site.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Darthjipsu · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Radosław Botev · CC BY 3.0 pl via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
Our take
- The watchtower
- Ticketed
- Fri from 2pm
- Address
- Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street, Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi
Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi - Website
- qasralhosn.ae
About Qasr Al Hosn
Qasr Al Hosn is, in its own words, the oldest stone building in Abu Dhabi, a fort whose watchtower dates from the 1760s. It tells the story of the city from a pearling settlement to a modern metropolis. It opens Saturday to Thursday 9am–8pm and Friday 2pm–8pm; admission to the House of Artisans, the Cultural Foundation and the landscape is complimentary, while the fort itself is ticketed (qasralhosn.ae).
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Qasr Al Hosn before you go.
Last checked: November 2026 How we choose
What’s nearby
Distances from Qasr Al Hosn are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- The Corniche1.8 kmWalk 22 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 9 min
- The Galleria4.0 kmCycle 20 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Qasr Al Watan5.3 kmCycle 26 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Louvre Abu Dhabi7.2 kmCycle 36 minCar or taxi 18 min
- The Grand Mosque14 kmCar or taxi 31 min
- Ferrari World26 kmCar or taxi 50 min
- Zayed International Airport29 kmCar or taxi 56 min
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.
Read next
Arts & CultureHouse of ArtisansEmirati crafts shown and taught on the Al Hosn site; admission is complimentary.Arts & CultureCultural FoundationThe city’s cultural centre beside Qasr Al Hosn: exhibitions, performances and École Ducasse.WalksThe Al Hosn site on footFrom the fort to the Cultural Foundation and the House of Artisans, in the city centre.