AL AIN PALACE MUSEUM

Also called Qasr Al Ain, this is the former palace of Sheikh Zayed. Built in 1910, he lived here until 1966 with his third wife, Sheikha Fatima, before moving to Abu Dhabi as president of the United Arab Emirates. The palace was converted into a museum and opened in 1998. A visit to the sublime mansion is fascinating as it provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of the royal family and a better understanding of their past as well as their daily life before the Union in 1971. The palace is made up of a succession of inner courtyards, each of which has its own well-defined function: guest quarters, VIPs, family quarters, which allow you to discover the majili (living rooms), kitchens, coffee rooms, classrooms, bedrooms and even Sheikh Zayed's famous Land Rover which took him so often into the desert. The royal family, from ancestors to descendants, is well highlighted in the museum through various portraits and a huge family tree. Note that neither on the family tree nor on the photos are the women of the family mentioned... Mothers, sisters, daughters exist, but the Emiratis do not talk about them and do not show them because it would be against the rules of propriety. It is for this very reason that one never asks an Emirati how his wife is doing (it would be interpreted as a lack of respect), but how his family is doing... The gardens are peaceful. It is possible to book a guided tour.