FAQ

Qasr Al Hosn Festival is an annual event held on the grounds of Qasr Al Hosn to celebrate several centuries of history of the fort and Emirati culture and traditions.

A wide range of historic and cultural themed exhibitions, workshops, performances and activities, as well as guided tours of the Qasr Al Hosn fort, can be enjoyed at the festival.

The Qasr Al Hosn Festival celebrates the history of the Fort and centuries of Emirati culture. It tells the story of Abu Dhabi’s ancestors and invites visitors to explore and understand the traditions of the past.

The Festival’s central purpose is to conserve Emirati heritage by keeping it alive and passing it onto future generations. By participating, visitors can understand the origins of the prosperous modern-day UAE and understand why this story of human endeavour, perseverance and creativity must be preserved.

This is a community and family-friendly event that is informative, interesting and fun. It brings people together to experience history through interactive storytelling.

The festival is open from Wednesday, February 3 to Saturday, February 13 and regular opening hours are from 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

February 3: The Festival is open to the public from 8:30 pm
February 7: This is a Ladies Day. The Festival is open to women and children only, from 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm.
February 4- 13: Regular hours, open to all from 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

There is no need to pre-book tickets for the Festival. Tickets must be purchased at the Festival entrance for AED 10 for any visitor aged 5 years and older, children of 4 years and under visit for free.

Entry Tickets:

• Tickets admit one person only and cannot be exchanged once redeemed
• Ticket is valid for entry between 16:00 – 22:45 on the date shown only
• The organiser reserves the right to refuse entry to unaccompanied children under the age of 12 years
• The organiser reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone without recourse

This year, visitors receive two Activity Passes when they enter the Festival and these can be used to experience activities including Camel Rides, Architecture Workshop, Archaeology Experience, Traditional Food Demonstration, Gardening Club and the Petting Zoo. They can also be redeemed to watch shows at the Festival Stage.

These Activity Passes can also be used to take part in scheduled workshops including Emirati Cooking Class and Family Craft Workshops (including Workshop Pavilions).

To book onto scheduled workshops using Activity Passes, visitors must go to the Workshop Registration Counter in the Cultural Foundation courtyard or any Information Points.

Additional Activity Passes can be purchased for AED 5 at all Information Points.

Activity Passes:

• Activity Passes for children aged 4 years and under will only be issued upon entry when accompanied by a paying adult
• Activity Passes cannot be exchanged for cash
• Activity Passes are valid for use by one person on a single activity
• Activity Passes do not guarantee entry to your chosen activity unless exchanged for a scheduled ticket (certain activities only)

The Festival site will provide the following facilities:

• Food and beverage outlets
  • An increased selection including live cooking and Meylas back for 2016
• A meeting point, including lost & found facility
• Praying facilities
• Medical facilities
• Nursing facilities
• Male, female and disabled toilet facilities
• Seating areas
  • This year the number of seating areas has been increased
• Information Points in strategic locations
  • Each Information Point will be manned by our friendly event staff who will be able to answer any questions
• Retail areas: A boutique will be located alongside the Information Point between the Cultural Foundation and the Marine Area. There will also be an additional boutique located within the Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition and Gahwa retail space in the Cultural Foundation Building
• Traditional Souks: 81 Souks offering a selection of traditional goods
  • An increase of 20 souks on 2015
• Park & Ride facilities
• Taxi ranks
• Cash machines
  • There will be two cash machines within the Festival grounds – one located inside the entrance to the Oasis Zone and the second located in the Marine Zone.

No, the first edition of Qasr Al Hosn Festival took place in 2013 and it was a huge success. This year’s festival beginning on February 3, 2016, will build on this success.

The festival is held on the grounds of Qasr Al Hosn between Al Nasr Street, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, and Sheikh Zayed the First Street.  A location map can be found at the website’s Vistor’s Info section.

The public is invited to tour the fort and see first-hand the ongoing restoration project, only during the festival days.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority is organising Qasr Al Hosn Festival and leading the conservation project of the fort.

Visitors can experience Abu Dhabi's story and learn how it grew from a small fishing community into a town and then a high-rise modern city in the Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition is called ‘The Story of Abu Dhabi and its People’.

The other exhibitions include 'Archives & Memories: Capturing the Nation’s Story' and 'Anatomy of a Photograph: Iconic Images from the Past' in the Cultural Foundation Building.

The festival ensures that there are interesting experiences for every member of the family. Some of the Children activities include:

• Horse Rides
• Camel Rides
• Artefact Dig and Handle
• Traditional Emirati School Classes – just like the old days
• Traditional Emirati Games
• Meet and learn about the camels, horses, goats, falcons, houbaras and Saluki dogs
• Gardening Club – children will get the chance to learn how to garden, and will take their plant home to take care of it and watch it grow
• Yowla teaching sessions

The Cultural Foundation Building will hold Emirati heritage-themed workshops every day of the celebrations.

It will house an open-air theatre hosting a full programme of performing arts and poetry, and fascinating exhibitions of national archives and photography.

The Cultural Foundation will also house the “Gahwa” coffee shop, where the traditional method of making Arabic coffee will be showcased, and you can taste or buy various types of traditional Gahwa.

A selection of books about Emirati culture and heritage will be available at the Library.

There are certain activities at the Festival that may present some difficulties for visitors with low mobility:

Marine Zone

Oyster Opening – restricted access for wheelchairs

Desert Zone

Petting Zoo – soft sand, difficult to access by wheelchair, unstable mobility

Camel Rides – not recommended for visitors with low mobility

Abu Dhabi Island Zone

Traditional House – width of entrance may make it difficult for wheelchair users

Cultural Foundation Building

Anatomy of a Photograph Exhibition – access from the rear of the building

Gahwa Terrace – not accessible by wheelchair (indoor area available close by)

Qasr Al Hosn Zone

Archaeology – soft sand, difficult to access by wheelchair, unstable mobility

There will be no smoking permitted anywhere on site. Security will confiscate all cigarettes and lighters at the Festival entrances. Visitors are advised to leave cigarettes and lighters at home or in their cars.