The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, announced yesterday that the site of the "fort" will open on the seventh of December, to form a new cultural destination in the heart of the UAE capital.

The fort is one of Abu Dhabi's fortified urban buildings. The site is made up of four interconnected parts: Al Hosn Palace, Cultural Complex, Historical Building of the National Consultative Council, and Artisan House. The official opening will be a global celebration of the history and cultural heritage of the UAE capital, coinciding with the establishment of a program celebrating the occasion over a period of days.

Qasr al-Hosn is the oldest and oldest heritage site in Abu Dhabi. It consists of two prominent buildings, the "inner fortress" which dates back to about 1795 and the "outer palace" built in the 1940s. The edifice was a testimony to the city's vibrant history over the past two centuries. The royal family initially took over the building and became the seat of government, the National Advisory Board and the National Archives. Today, the palace has been transformed into a national museum after years of restoration and maintenance. It stands out as an urban monument that reflects the development of the city from the area of ​​settlement, which was based on fishing and pearls in the 18th century, to one of the world's most magnificent modern cities. In the heart of the vibrant city.

After its renovation, the cultural complex has recently been transformed into a distinctive building that will host a visual arts and performance performance program, as well as the opening of its first children's library. To celebrate the reopening of Al Hosn, the Visual Arts Center of the Cultural Complex will present an exhibition highlighting the artistic history of the building and presenting itself as a beacon for local artists. The cultural complex will be reopened in stages, starting with the new Visual Arts Center in December.

"Qasr Al Hosn cuts down the history of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is the first edifice that has been built and stands firmly in our continuously evolving city," said Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Head of Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi. It is also a living proof of the spirit of the Abu Dhabi people and a source of our national memory. The reopening of the exhibition is an invaluable memory for both Abu Dhabi and UAE nationals. "

"We are also excited about the reopening of the cultural complex, which has always played a key role in Abu Dhabi's social life. Through Al Hosn, we look forward to enhancing the sense of community and re-establishing a home for Emirati culture in all its forms. "

"With the historic fort palace and the cultural complex on the same site, the fort will be open to all year round, for citizens and residents who want to learn more about our heritage, or for art lovers and intellectuals who are interested in exchanging," said Saif Saeed Ghabash, undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi. Ideas and sources of inspiration ».

"Our greatest goal is to create a home for creativity, learning, dialogue and debate, celebrating the ancient UAE civilization and keeping pace with its modern life."

House of craftsmen

The Artisans' House, located next to Qasr Al Hosn and the Cultural Complex, will be a major focus in efforts to preserve and raise awareness about the UAE's heritage. In 2011, UNESCO incorporated the Siddo (Bedouin Textile) into the UNESCO List of Urgent Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage. Thus, the Artisans' House takes a leading role in protecting and supporting this human heritage and valuable craftsmanship and supporting its practitioners.

In addition to supporting efforts to preserve traditional practices and craftsmanship in the UAE, the Artisans' House aims to enable the dissemination of knowledge and skills of the crafts and their transmission between generations, ensuring their future sustainability.

In addition to its role in reviving traditional crafts and enhancing their presence among contemporary cultural activities, the Artisans' House will offer a series of training courses, educational workshops and other public events.

"the palace"

Al Hosn Palace is an historic landmark with a great cultural and national significance in Abu Dhabi. The word "fort" refers to the inner fort, dating from around 1795, which houses the first monumental buildings in the UAE capital, the observation tower built of sea and coral stones , To protect the population on the island during the sixties of the 18th century, while the word "Palace" refers to the outer palace built around the perimeter of the inner fort, during the reign of Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, in the forties, becoming the seat of the ruling family and the seat of the Council Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan The Nahyan.

The inner fortress and the outer palace are seen as prominent witnesses to the heritage of Abu Dhabi, and describe the story of this city and its people between its history and its contemporary heritage. The permanent exhibitions, hosted by these two historical teachers, offer a great experience for visitors with many activities and events.

The overall program of Qasr Al-Hosn includes specialized tours of history, archeology and architecture, as well as a series of re-filming experiences of the past generations.

Cultural area

The Al Hosn Cultural Park was designed to re-establish the Al Hosn Palace as a landmark on the coast and desert and to celebrate the city's urban features as a result of its accelerated growth, a celebration worthy of national heritage and identity between the past and the present.

The main plan of Al Hosn is divided into two distinct areas: in the former, the ancient heritage is distinguished by Al Hosn Palace, where the surrounding landscape has been redesigned to match its original environment. The palace features a building on a sandy plain overlooking a natural coastal desert , While in the other area there is a modern heritage site on the "Cultural Complex", which is a network of the urban city, which is accompanied by man-made constructions and wonders, and geometric expressions in the form of solid surfaces under which there are many exhibitions and events.

«Complex»

Founded in 1981 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Cultural Foundation was the first multi-purpose non-profit cultural center with a valuable message to promote all forms of intellectual and creative activity. And reflects Sheikh Zayed's desire to raise cultural awareness and inculcate the values ​​of national identity in the hearts of UAE youth.

The cultural complex, which includes the first national library, art pavilion, exhibition hall and art workshops, is home to culture and exchange of knowledge, and is a unique setting for dialogue between artists, poets and thinkers.

The opening of the cultural complex is expected to be followed by a series of maintenance and modernization projects, which will result in the launch of the first library of its kind for children, in addition to an open exhibition of visual arts, and indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces.

1795

Date of fortification.