The Palace of HH the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was built in 1937. It was converted into a museum and opened to the public in 2001. However, visitors will not find large collections of photographs or exhibits in the museum, because Sheikh Zayed decreed that the royal palace and private residential areas should be an honest reflection of his country’s culture prior to its dramatic development during the post-oil years.
The original structure comprised a private residence for the ruler and his family within a complex of courtyards. The palace was Sheikh Zayed’s residence in Al Ain between 1937 and 1966. The simplicity of the buildings combined with the cool, secluded gardens and the lush green palm trees at the western edge of the Al Ain Oasis, made a deep impression upon all those who had journeyed through the surrounding desert to reach it.
The external courts each house a different majlis or meeting room where the Sheikh could receive local and foreign dignitaries. The areas set aside for local visitors were furnished traditionally with floor cushions, whilst hospitality was extended to foreigners in an area more in keeping with Western styles of furniture. Separate women’s quarters were provided for the guests of the Sheikh’s wife. A nearby room for the coffee-maker ensured prompt attention to the needs of guests, who were offered plentiful drinks, dates and a meal, in keeping with Arab custom. An inner courtyard contained the main kitchen and store-room, adjacent to which was the palace’s vital water source: the well.
A replica of the grand court tent in the grounds of the palace represents an iconic link with Bedouin life. Sheikh Zayed was proud to meet guests and VIPs there to demonstrate Arabian hospitality and generosity. Another symbol of Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to his people is the Land Rover in which he drove into the desert to visit the tribes so that he could understand and respect the conditions under which they lived. A similar Land Rover is currently displayed in the museum.
The museum houses many fine portraits of the royal family and a family tree depicting the Sheikh’s lineage. There is a schoolroom, with a collection of small desks and a blackboard, where the royal children received their education from private tutors. The spiritual needs of the family were met in the Quran room.
Architecturally, Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum replicates many of the characteristic features of important buildings in the UAE. The towers on either side of the main entrance were added during the restoration of the palace in imitation of the multi-storeyed tower of Jahili fort. Visitors entering through the outer gate immediately leave behind the bustle and traffic of the modern city. Built at a time when air-conditioning was unknown, the buildings were kept reasonably cool through the inclusion of broad square verandas that shaded the main rooms and decorative perforated stone or wooden screens through which the breeze could pass. The practicality and simplicity of the buildings, coupled with their colours and textures produce a pleasant and soothing effect.
Opening times:
Saturdays to Thursdays: 8.30 am – 7.30 pm
Fridays: 3.00 pm – 7.30 pm
Mondays: closed
Entry is free of charge.
For more info:
Tel: 037517755