The fortress has undergone many stages of construction over the years. It was a seat of government, a home for the ruling family, a meeting place for the government in Abu Dhabi, and a living witness to the development and prosperity of the capital throughout its long history.

Qasr Al Hosn is part of a larger historical complex that includes the National Consultative Council and the Cultural Complex.
The Fort is the oldest and oldest historic building in Abu Dhabi, containing the city's first permanent architectural structure, the Watchtower built in the 1890s, to protect Abu Dhabi's coastal trade routes and the growing communities on this island.
Built in the 1890s to monitor coastal trade routes and protect the island's growing communities

The fortress consists of two important buildings: the inner fortress, which dates back to about 1795, and the outer palace, which was built during the period 1939-1945. Over the years, the fortress was a seat of government and the ruling family, a meeting place for the government and an advisory council. A national archive, today it represents the beating heart of Abu Dhabi, and the living witness to the stations of its long history.

Today, the palace has been transformed into a national museum in 2018, after more than eleven years of restoration work.It stands out as a national symbol reflecting Abu Dhabi's development from a region of settlement of the 18th century Bani Yas tribes that relied on fishing and pearls to one of the most fascinating cities. Modern world, embracing in its galleries a collection of artifacts and archival materials, dating back to 6000 years BC