Shams Palace

Shams Palace (Arabic: قصر شمس qaṣr shams; lit. "sun palace") is the official residence and workplace of the President of the Arab Union. Located in a fortified compound atop Qudour Heights overlooking Nasser City Centre to the east, the palace shares the compound grounds with the headquarters of the Republican Guard, the only division of the armed forces allowed on the grounds of the presidential palace. The main palace building has four above-ground levels (including the ground floor) and two underground/basement levels. The first three above-ground floors are a total of 24,550 m2 each, while the fourth floor has less due to balconies and gardens atop the roof of the third floor; the two basement levels are also about half the square footage of the first three ground levels.