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Haunted places in United Arab Emirates
What are the most haunted places in United Arab Emirates? The best-known is Jazirat Al Hamra.
In the Gulf, the supernatural is usually spoken of in terms of djinn – beings described in the Qur’an as created from smokeless fire, distinct from human ghosts. Belief in djinn is part of Islamic tradition and is treated seriously; folklore adds tales of desert spirits and of djinn who favour ruins, wells and abandoned places.
- 1 haunting
- 6 recorded sightings
Haunted places in United Arab Emirates
The ghost lore of United Arab Emirates
The best-known “haunted” place in the Emirates is Jazirat Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah, the Gulf’s last intact pearling town, left almost empty in 1968 when most of its people moved to Abu Dhabi. For decades it stood frozen, and stories grew of djinn living in its coral-stone houses; filmmakers used it as a set, including for the 2013 horror film Djinn. Former residents now hold reunions there, and the town is on the UAE’s UNESCO tentative list.
Local newspapers run haunted-places features each Halloween, but many of the buildings mentioned are private homes and hotels. Jazirat Al Hamra, now a heritage village, is the place to visit – by day, and with respect for both its families and its faith.
Ghost-hunting hotspots
- Ras Al Khaimah
Home to the Jazirat Al Hamra heritage village and to the long-empty Al Qasimi Palace, the subject of local rumours.
- Sharjah
Its older hotels and districts feature in Gulf News’ collections of UAE ghost stories.
- Jumeirah, Dubai
One of Dubai’s older villa districts, where residents have told local reporters of unexplained happenings in private homes.
Timeline
- 1820A signatory of the 1820 treaty Jazirat Al Hamra
The town’s sheikh, Rajib bin Ahmed Al Za’abi, signs the General Maritime Treaty with Britain as an independent ruler – a sign of the pearling town’s standing.
- 1968The town empties Jazirat Al Hamra
After a dispute with the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, most of the Za’ab move to Abu Dhabi at Sheikh Zayed’s invitation, leaving the town almost deserted.
- 2012The first reunion Jazirat Al Hamra
Former residents and their families hold the first of an annual series of reunion festivals in the abandoned town.
- 2013Djinn Jazirat Al Hamra
Tobe Hooper’s horror film, produced by Abu Dhabi’s Image Nation, uses the town’s reputation and brings it to international audiences.
- 28 October 2015“UAE’s most haunted places” Jazirat Al Hamra
Gulf News’ XPRESS visits at dusk for a Halloween feature, reporting that locals have plenty of stories, though its reporter saw nothing.
- 26 July 2020UNESCO tentative list Jazirat Al Hamra
The UAE submits “the pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra” to UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list.
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