Al Qasimi Palace: Inside Ras Al Khaimah's Grand 'Haunted' House

• 2026 — Key year
• 198 — Volume / scale

The National has published a detailed feature on Al Qasimi Palace, a sprawling 1980s royal residence in Ras Al Khaimah that has long been known locally as the "haunted palace" due to its abrupt abandonment and decades of decay. The article, published on 11 October 2026, examines the palace's history, its architectural significance, and the emirate's current plans to restore and repurpose it as a cultural tourism destination.

Built in the late 1980s under the direction of the late Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the palace covers approximately 45,000 square metres on a prominent hilltop overlooking the RAK city centre. It combines Islamic architectural motifs — domes, arches, mashrabiya screens — with late 20th-century monumental scale, featuring a grand reception hall, private apartments, a mosque, and extensive gardens. Construction was completed in 1989, but the ruling family occupied it for only a brief period before relocating to the current Ruler's Court. The palace then sat empty for over three decades, becoming the subject of local folklore about supernatural occurrences — hence the "haunted" moniker.

In 2023, the RAK Department of Antiquities and Museums, in coordination with the RAK Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), commissioned a structural assessment that confirmed the building's core was sound but required extensive remediation for water ingress, concrete spalling, and MEP systems replacement. A restoration masterplan was approved in early 2024 with a budget of AED 180 million, funded through the RAK Government's Heritage Preservation Fund and a private sponsorship from RAK Properties.

The restoration, now in its second phase, focuses on stabilising the structure, restoring original finishes (marble flooring, hand-painted ceilings, custom chandeliers), and adapting the interior for museum-grade climate control. The palace is slated to open as the "Al Qasimi Heritage Museum" in late 2027, showcasing the history of the Al Qasimi ruling family, the emirate's maritime heritage, and the evolution of RAK from a pearling port to a diversified economy. The surrounding 12-hectare grounds will be landscaped as a public park with walking trails, an amphitheatre for cultural events, and a visitor centre.

RAKTDA CEO Raki Phillips, quoted in The National, said: "Al Qasimi Palace is a unique asset — a modern palace with a mythic reputation. Restoring it gives us a landmark cultural attraction that complements our nature and adventure offerings at Jebel Jais and our beach resorts on Al Marjan Island. It also anchors the heritage narrative that differentiates RAK in the UAE tourism market."

The project fits within RAK's broader heritage strategy, which includes the restoration of Dhayah Fort (completed 2022), the Al Jazirah Al Hamra pearling village (ongoing), and the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah expansion (scheduled for 2028). These assets collectively aim to capture the growing cultural tourism segment, which the World Tourism Organization estimates grows at 15 per cent annually in the Middle East.

For the real estate sector, the palace's restoration has spillover effects on the surrounding neighbourhoods of Al Nakheel and Al Dhait. RAK Properties has announced a mixed-use development adjacent to the palace grounds — 350 residential units, a boutique hotel, and retail — leveraging the heritage cachet. Property values in the immediate vicinity have risen 18 per cent since the restoration announcement in 2023, according to data from the RAK Municipality's land registry.

Investors should note that the palace is not a commercial asset in the traditional sense — it will be operated by the Department of Antiquities and Museums as a public museum with subsidised entry fees for residents and tourists. However, the surrounding development and the increased tourism footfall (RAKTDA projects 250,000 annual visitors by 2030) create commercial opportunities for hospitality, F&B, and retail operators. The project also demonstrates the RAK Government's willingness to deploy public capital for heritage preservation, a policy that reduces speculative risk for private developers in heritage-adjacent zones.

Residents gain a major public green space and cultural venue in a city where such amenities are limited. The palace's hilltop location offers panoramic views of the Hajar Mountains, the mangroves, and the Gulf — a vista that will be accessible to the public for the first time. Educational programmes for schools are being developed in partnership with the RAK Education Zone, aligning with the emirate's focus on cultural identity in the curriculum.