Al Jazirah Al Hamra: the Ras Al Khaimah ghost town, explained
Al Jazirah Al Hamra is an abandoned pearling village roughly 20 kilometres south of Ras Al Khaimah city centre, emptied when the Zaab tribe left between 1968 and 1971 and known locally as the Ghost Town. It is widely described as the best-preserved pearling settlement in the Gulf, which is why it sits on the UNESCO Tentative List as the pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra rather than as a curiosity.
You will find the exodus confidently explained both ways. One account attributes it to tribal conflict with the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; another to the pull of Abu Dhabi's oil-era wealth in the 1960s. Both are advanced by credible accounts and neither is settled, so we present them as the open question they are rather than picking the better story. The founding date is disputed too: some sources say the Zaab established the settlement in the late 16th century, others trace it to the 14th. Conservation and restoration work is reported to have begun in 2010. Can you source this better? corrections@insiderak.com.
What you need to know
What it actually is
A complete coastal village of coral-block and mud houses, a mosque and a souk, left largely as its residents walked away from it. Its significance is the completeness rather than any single building: most Gulf pearling settlements were demolished or built over during the oil era, and this one was not.
When and why it emptied
The Zaab tribe moved out between 1968 and 1971, leaving the town empty. The cause is contested between tribal conflict with the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and the economic pull of Abu Dhabi during the oil boom. Both explanations appear in serious accounts, and the honest position is that the question remains open.
UNESCO status and restoration
The site appears on the UNESCO Tentative List as the pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra, which is a candidate status rather than inscription as a World Heritage Site. Conservation and restoration work is reported to have started in 2010, and a restored portion of the village has been used to host art events.
The ghost-town reputation
The site has a local reputation for being haunted, which drives a good deal of the search interest and a good deal of the nonsense written about it. We are not going to repeat ghost stories as fact. What is true is that an intact abandoned village is unusual and atmospheric, and the historical interest does not need embellishment.
Where to eat nearby
Where to stay nearby
Getting there
The village is about 20 kilometres south of Ras Al Khaimah city centre, close to the Al Hamra Village resort area and reached by car. It pairs easily with Al Hamra Mall or a stay on Al Marjan Island, both a short drive away. There is no ticket office or visitor centre, so bring water and sensible footwear, and go earlier in the day for light and heat rather than the middle of the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
What is Al Jazirah Al Hamra?
An abandoned pearling village about 20 kilometres south of Ras Al Khaimah city centre, emptied when the Zaab tribe left between 1968 and 1971. It is widely described as the best-preserved pearling settlement in the Gulf and sits on the UNESCO Tentative List as the pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra.
Why was Al Jazirah Al Hamra abandoned?
This is genuinely disputed. One account attributes the exodus to tribal conflict with the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; another to the economic pull of Abu Dhabi during the 1960s oil boom. Both appear in credible accounts and the question is not settled, so treat any single confident explanation with caution.
When was Al Jazirah Al Hamra founded?
Sources disagree. Some say the Zaab tribe established the settlement in the late 16th century, others trace its origins to the 14th. What is better documented is its end: the town emptied between 1968 and 1971, and conservation work is reported to have begun in 2010.
Is Al Jazirah Al Hamra a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Not yet. It appears on the UNESCO Tentative List as the pearl trading town of Jazirat Al-Hamra, which means it is a candidate put forward for consideration rather than an inscribed World Heritage Site. The distinction matters and is frequently blurred in travel coverage.
Is the Ras Al Khaimah ghost town haunted?
It has a local reputation for being haunted, and that reputation drives much of the online interest in it. We do not report ghost stories as fact. The site's actual interest is that an intact abandoned pearling village is genuinely rare in the Gulf, where most were demolished or built over.
Is there an entry fee for Al Jazirah Al Hamra?
There is no ticket office or formal visitor centre at the site. Because conservation work is ongoing, access arrangements can change, so check locally before making a long trip, and bring water and sensible footwear as there are no facilities.