EPM

HISTORY OF THE OLD PALACE

The Old Palace, seen from the air in 1959.

When the water was found in the island of Abu Dhabi in 1760, Shaikh Shakhbut bin Dhiab, the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1793 to 1816, decided to move his headquarters from Liwa Oasis to the island of Abu Dhabi and the Old Palace was built in the year 1793. The old palace is the earliest building that still exists on the island of Abu Dhabi. It is built according to the Islamic style and it faces the "qibla" direction. It was built of local material such as pebbles and coral rocks from the sea as well as plaster and palm mats brought from Liwa Oasis and Oman. The building process was accomplished by skilled native builders and by some technicians from the Persian Coast. The first changes happened when Shaikh Said bin Tahnoun became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1845. When His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, the ruling seat and administration was moved from the old palace to Al Manhal palace, which became the new headquarters for the ruler and for the ruling administration.

• The Old Palace in a philatelist view
• Old palace shows the “old” Zaid.
• Old Palace in 1940s.
• In 1949 from the air.
• Entrance to the Old Palace, 1949.
• Shaikh Shakhbut outside the Palace beside one of the old Cannons.

Back to Independent Cancels page.

Back to EPM page.

If you have questions or comments please email.