QASR AL MUWAIJI

Built by Sheikh Zayed the First (grandfather of Sheikh Zayed, father of the nation) in the early ^20th century, it was given to his descendants. The fort served as an office for the Al Nayhan family's governors of Al Ain. It was therefore only natural that Sheikh Zayed should settle here with his first wife Sheikha Hassa, from whom Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nayhan, the former President of the United Arab Emirates, was born in 1948. It was in this palace that he lived throughout his childhood. In 1966, when Sheikh Zayed became governor of Abu Dhabi, the fort was abandoned. Efforts to restore the fort are aimed at giving us an insight into the various phases of its construction and the objects discovered on site, as well as providing us with information on the lifestyle, materials used and, of course, the life of Sheikh Khalifa. We stroll through a maze of glass galleries designed by architects Machado and Silvetti. The overall impression is one of great success, and the museography gives pride of place to multimedia. The various touch screens and showcases retrace the life of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the fort's evolution, archaeological finds and the architects' work to restore the fort. We recommend that you take a guide to explain everything to you, or watch the ten-minute presentation on the website. The whole environment is bathed in light, transparency and the interplay of water and reflections: a perfect setting for magnificent photos.