In the southern part of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate, about 90 minutes north of Dubai, lies Al Jazeera Al Hamra, a small town often referred to as the ghost village. Once a bustling pearl fishing and trading hub, the town is now characterised by its crumbling coral and mudbrick houses, silent mosques, and deserted marketplaces, attracting tourists from far and wide.
Al Jazeera Al Hamra was founded in the late 16th century by the Za’ab tribe on lands under the Al Qasimi dynasty’s rule. It was originally known as the “red island” due to the colour of its sands. By the early 1900s, the village had grown to about 500 homes, supported by a fleet of 25 pearling boats and livestock that included 500 sheep and 150 cattle. However, the introduction of artificial pearls in the 1920s led to a steep decline in the pearling industry in the Arabian Gulf, and the discovery of oil further changed the region’s economy. Between 1968 and 1971, the inhabitants gradually abandoned the village. Many relocated to the capital and the Al-Za’ab area of Abu Dhabi. What remains today is a traditional pearling village, preserved as a unique snapshot of Emirati life before the oil boom.
Al Jazeera Al Hamra features all the traditional elements expected in such a neighbourhood. Visitors can explore a fort, watchtowers, a mosque, a souq, and an array of courtyard houses, from modest small dwellings to the grand home of a wealthy pearl merchant. The structures were built using local materials: coral blocks, fossilised beach rock, mangrove beams, date palm trunks, roofing, matting, and ropes and layers of seashells for drainage.
As the last remaining historical pearling village in the Gulf region, Al Jazeera Al Hamra continues to fascinate visitors with its rich history, well-preserved architecture, and haunting atmosphere. But there is another place which may intrigue those drawn to all things mysterious: the abandoned Al Madam Village engulfed by the dunes. You can get more information about it from our article.
In addition, if you would like to learn more about Emirati history, we recommend that you visit the Jumeirah Archaeological Site and the Dubai Pearl Museum.
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