Area to undergo year-long renovation to include construction of park, cultural performance area

  ABU DHABI - Qasr Al Hosn, long considered as the symbolic birthplace of the UAE and home of the ruling Al Nahyan family, will undergo a year-long renovation to become the "cultural heart of Abu Dhabi". As envisioned, the 400-sq.m.-area will have a park planted with indigenous foliage and also palm and ghaf trees. There will be a performance area where concerts, exhibitions and cultural events will be held. Cafes and meeting places for residents and tourists will also be set up. "Blending modernity alongside the emirate's maritime and desert heritage, the buildings on either side contrast the Abu Dhabi of today, with that of its past," said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) of Abu Dhabi. He also said the masterplan for Qasr Al Hosn will also involve the development of the surrounding area. Historical records showed that Qasr Al Hosn was built in 1760 as a fortification to protect the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island. It was then expanded and extended into the royal palace. Qasr Al Hosn was subsequently converted into a museum displaying archaeological collections, artifacts and pictures showing the history of Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Gulf area. GAC/Expat 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