On the coast of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates lies a fascinating ghost town called Al Jazeera Al Hamra. This abandoned village, once a thriving pearling and fishing community, is now silent testament to the region’s rich history. Its empty streets and crumbling buildings have captivated visitors for decades, drawing in those curious about its past and mysterious atmosphere.
Al Jazeera Al Hamra boasts an impressive array of structures, including a fort, schools, mosques, and hundreds of traditional homes. These buildings use coral stone from the nearby sea, showcasing unique architectural features like wind towers and intricate decorations. The village’s eerie, quiet, and well-preserved state makes it a popular spot for explorers and history enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into life in the UAE before the discovery of oil changed the nation forever.
What is Al Jazeera Al Hamra?
Al Jazeera Al Hamra is a unique Gulf pearling town that has survived intact from earlier times. Its name means “Red Island” due to the red dunes that once surrounded it. The village was home to the Za’ab tribe until the late 1960s.
Al Jazeera Al Hamra contains many old buildings, including:
- Mosques
- A fort
- A souk (market)
- Traditional houses
Some notable structures include:
- Friday Mosque
- Masjid Bint Samikh
- The main fortress
The town’s layout shows traditional Gulf urban planning. Its buildings use local materials like coral stone and palm fronds. Many homes have decorative features like carved wooden doors and wind towers for cooling.
Who called Al Jazeera Al Hamra home?
Al Jazeera Al Hamra was home to a diverse group of people. The Za’ab tribe played a crucial role in founding and ruling the town. Pearl merchants and sea captains made up a significant part of the community. These skilled sailors led the town’s naval activities.
Fishermen formed another vital group in Al Jazeera Al Hamra. Their work was crucial to the local economy. Poets also lived in the town, adding to its cultural richness.
The town’s population grew over time:
- 1600s: Town founded
• 1831: 4,100 residents
Al Jazeera Al Hamra had a strong maritime focus. In 1831, its fleet included:
- 20 pearling ships
- 22 fishing ships
- 12 trade ships
This mix of ships shows the town’s varied sea-based activities.
How did they survive?
Life in Al Jazeera revolved around the sea and date palms. Men spent months at a time pearling, while women kept things running on land. They took care of homes, animals, and the crucial date harvest.
Pearling was tough work that often left divers in debt. When not at sea, people moved to mountain orchards for the summer date harvest. The versatile date palm provided food, building materials, and more.
After pearling declined in the late 1920s, people adapted. They turned to deep-sea fishing, ocean trading, boat building, and date farming.
The hardy residents used what nature provided. They got water from wells, fished the sea, and used wind to power their boats. Palm fronds and trunks built homes that stood up to harsh sandstorms.
Where did the residents relocate?
The village’s inhabitants moved away in the late 1960s. Some families settled just inland near the coastal road. Many others went to the capital city. A neighborhood in Abu Dhabi bears the name Al Za’ab, after the group that lived there. The old village stayed intact because people kept ownership of their buildings, saving them from the significant changes that came with oil money.
What makes Al Jazeera Al Hamra unique?
Al Jazeera Al Hamra stands out as a living museum of coastal architecture. The village showcases building methods that have changed over time. People used local materials to keep their homes cool in the hot climate.
Coral was an essential building material. Builders took it from a nearby reef and let it dry on the beach. The porous nature of coral helped insulate houses from the heat. The walls were thick and tall and mostly made of this coral.
The village’s structures tell a story of constant rebuilding. Sea air wore down buildings, so people reused materials often. Some parts of the village, like a mosque wall, date back to the 1500s.
Other building materials included:
- Mangrove poles
- Palm frond mats
- Sand bricks with shells
- Cement blocks
- Steel
This mix of old and newer materials shows how construction evolved in the area over time.
Are there spirits in Al Jazeera Al Hamra?
Is Al Jazeera Al Hamra haunted? It has a spooky reputation. Many people think ghosts live in this old village. Stories about strange creatures are usual here. Sailors used to talk about underwater spirits. The town has tales of different apparitions:
- Umm Al Duwais: A female spirit with sharp hands and a sweet (or musky) scent
- Bu Daria: A sea spirit with no hands
- Fatouh: A spirit that guards the mangrove trees
- Noon Donkey: A scary creature that eats kids who play outside at noon
People still wonder if these spirits are real. The empty buildings and quiet streets make some visitors feel scared. But no one knows for sure if ghosts live there.
What to see in Al Jazeera Al Hamra
Al Jazeera Al Hamra offers visitors a glimpse into the past of Ras Al Khaimah. This abandoned town has many interesting spots to explore.
The old market area, or souk, once buzzed with activity. Shopkeepers sold sweets and goods from far-off places. Boats brought items from Dubai, and bigger ships sailed to ports around the Indian Ocean.
A unique mosque stands out for its cone-shaped tower. This building, called Masjid Bint Samikh, sits near the water. Its tall, skinny tower used big pieces of coral stone. The mosque underwent restoration in the 1950s and now has a style somewhat resembling the buildings in Saudi Arabia.
One large house belonged to a wealthy merchant family. It had special towers to keep the rooms cool in hot weather. Another fancy home shows how much money pearl traders made. It has two floors, which was rare back then. The upstairs room has pretty windows that let in the sea breeze.
The town’s fort protected people in times of danger. It had a space for the animals, too. The local leader lived there in rooms for different seasons.
Archaeologists found something surprising at the site of the main mosque. They dug up not just one but six mosques built on top of each other over 300 years. An old map shows it once had 20 domes.
Art lovers might enjoy visiting during the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. The empty buildings become a backdrop for new art pieces.
For those who want to stay nearby, there are many fancy hotels close to the ghost town. Visitors can also drive to see other sights in the area, like Ras Al Khaimah’s old town or Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE.
Here’s a quick list of key spots to check out:
- The old market (souk)
- Masjid Bint Samikh (the cone-shaped mosque)
- The merchant’s house with wind towers
- The pearl trader’s two-story home
- The protective fort
- The layered Friday mosque site
Al Jazeera Al Hamra gives a peek into life before the UAE became a rich oil country. Its empty streets and crumbling walls tell stories of pearl divers, sea traders, and everyday people from long ago.
The best time to visit
The ideal time to explore this historic site is during winter. From February 2 to 29, 2024, the ghost town hosts Ras Al Khaimah Art. This event brings large art pieces to the old buildings. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions and cultural events throughout the village. The cooler winter weather makes outdoor exploration more pleasant. April can also be the best month to visit before the summer heat sets in. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.