Al Jazirat Al Hamra ghost town, Ras Al Khaimah

Is Al Jazirat Al Hamra worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re curious about life in the Emirates before oil. Al Jazirat Al Hamra is the rare Gulf pearling town that was never bulldozed: coral-stone courtyard houses, a fort, a souq and mosque ruins, left almost as they were when people moved out in 1968–1971. It’s free, quiet and very photogenic.

It’s less rewarding if you’re short on time and came for beaches and skyscrapers — then make it a 30-minute stop on the way to Al Marjan Island. Summer is the real catch: with almost no shade, a midday walk in July is miserable. From November to March it’s a pleasant hour.

Opening hours and entry fee

Entry to Al Jazirat Al Hamra is free. The heritage village website lists Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm, closed Mondays. Visit Ras Al Khaimah describes the site as open-access, suggests coming between 8 am and 6 pm, and asks visitors not to stay after dark.

In practice the restored area — fort and courtyard houses — keeps the heritage village hours, while the surrounding ruins can be walked freely in daylight. If you’re making a special trip, call ahead: +971 7 236 8797 or +971 56 548 6909.

You don’t need cash for the gate. Money matters only for the taxi, water and some festival events. Taxis booked through Careem or the RAKTA Sayr app take cards, so you can manage without dirhams in cash.

Why was Al Jazirat Al Hamra abandoned?

The town lived on pearls. Founded by the Za’ab tribe in the late 1500s or 1600s on a tidal island — hence “Red Island” — it had about 500 houses and 2,500–3,000 people by the early 20th century, with pearling boats, fishing, trade and date groves.

The pearl market collapsed in the 1920s, and after oil was found the jobs moved to the growing cities. Between 1968 and 1971 most families relocated, largely to Abu Dhabi, after the move was offered to them. The empty town survived because nobody redeveloped it — which is exactly what makes it valuable now. Since 2020 it has been on UNESCO’s Tentative List.

Is Al Jazirat Al Hamra haunted?

Only in folklore. Like many empty places in the Emirates, the town has stories of djinn — spirits from Arabian tradition — and the “ghost town” nickname comes from decades of deserted lanes, not from any event. Film crews have used it as a location for the same reason.

Former residents and their families still return for gatherings and have shared old photos to guide the restoration. Treat it as a place of memory: enjoy the eerie quiet, but keep it respectful.

What to see

• The fort — a round watchtower and fortifications that guarded the way onto the island; one of the first buildings restored and now an events venue.
• Bait Abdul Kareem — a large merchant’s house with wind towers (barjeel) that cooled the rooms long before air conditioning.
• Bin Dulum House — a pearling captain’s compound with two winter houses and a summer house.
• The souq — once a few metres from the shore, where camel and donkey caravans loaded goods for the interior.
• The Large Friday Mosque — excavated remains of the town’s biggest religious building.
• Six restored courtyard houses behind the fort, showing summer and winter rooms around a yard.
• The ruined lanes beyond — the reason photographers come. Look from the street; don’t go inside.

Guided tours

You can explore on your own, but a guide makes the empty houses make sense. The heritage village runs 1–2 hour tours with trained volunteer guides, with the route agreed with you; book on its website, where no price is listed, so ask when booking.

Without a car, a full-day Ras Al Khaimah tour is the easy option — most combine the ghost town with a pearl farm, Dhayah Fort and the red dunes, and you won’t have to hunt for a taxi back.

Historic sites in Ras Al Khaimah compared

Forts, museums and old quarters in Ras Al Khaimah rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Best light is early morning and the last 60–90 minutes before sunset; midday is flat and very hot.
• Go between November and March — in summer even a morning walk with no shade is hard work.
• The Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival takes over the restored houses in winter, with exhibitions and evening events.
• Start at the fort and the restored courtyards, then wander into the ruins — you’ll read the broken houses better.
• Cover shoulders and knees — good for the sun and respectful of the place.
• No car? A day tour of the emirate almost always includes the ghost town.

Questions