Qasr Al Muwaiji is a mudbrick fort-palace in Al Ain where Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, was born in 1948. After restoration it opened as a museum in 2015, and entry is free.
What to see
The fort is a fine example of early 20th-century mudbrick architecture: a square enclosure with corner towers and a grand gate. A coin found on site shows it was standing by 1897. When Sheikh Zayed became the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain in 1946, he made the fort his family home and diwan, and in the 1950s he expanded it with new diwan buildings, kitchens and guest quarters and enlarged the mosque. Sheikh Khalifa spent much of his youth here.
A glass exhibition hall stands in the courtyard. It tells of the Ruling Family's links to the fort and Sheikh Khalifa's life and achievements, with first-hand accounts, as well as the site's history from its earliest archaeological finds and the role of water and oases in Al Ain. Next door is Muwaiji Oasis, the smallest in Al Ain, with about 21,000 palms and a working falaj irrigation system.
Getting there
The fort is on Khalifa bin Zayed Street at the western approach to Al Ain, opposite the Ruler's Representative Court. It is about 160 km and an hour and a half by car from Abu Dhabi, and about 130 km and also around an hour and a half from Dubai.
Planning your visit
The fort is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. Free tours in Arabic and English last about 45 minutes and run subject to availability; book them through abudhabiculture.ae, and a multimedia guide is also available. Allow 45 to 90 minutes. The fort combines well with Al Ain's historic centre and oasis.
Before you go
There is no official dress code, but modest clothing suits a heritage site. Part of the visit is in the open courtyard, so bring a hat and water during the day.
Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Al Muwaiji, Al Ain · 24.225201, 55.726919
