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| By Kamal Ghazal |
Nestled deep within Ras Al Khaimah, near the quiet shores of the Arabian Gulf, lies a deserted village cloaked in the scent of memory. It does not speak but it whispers. Whispers of fishermen who once thrived here, of footsteps echoing at night with no one in sight, of shadows moving when nothing should.
Known in Arabic as Al Jazirah Al Hamra, meaning "The Red Island", the village takes its name from the reddish hue of the sand that once surrounded it, especially during high tides and low desert light. This iron-rich terrain gave the entire coastal strip a distinct tone that set it apart from neighboring settlements.
Al Jazirah Al Hamra is not merely a historical site being restored for tourism, it is a suspended moment in time. Life was abruptly cut off, leaving behind a hollow space. And that emptiness? It was soon filled by stories of jinn, of unseen presences said to still wander among the coral stone and mudbrick homes.
What really happened here ? Is it a forgotten heritage or is there something else that never left?
A Village That Vanished Without a Trace
Historically known as "Al Zaab Island", the village was founded in the 17th century by the Zaab tribe. Built on red sand by the sea, Al Jazirah Al Hamra once housed over 2,000 people, pearl divers, fishermen, boatbuilders. Its homes were crafted from mud, coral stone, and palm trunks, topped with traditional wind towers (Barjeel) to temper the desert heat. It had everything: markets, mosques, defensive towers.
Then, suddenly by the late 1960s, its people were gone. No war. No catastrophe. No clear explanation.
Some claim they migrated to Abu Dhabi in search of better opportunities. Others whisper of something that silently drove them away… as if an invisible force wanted the village emptied.
Strange Phenomena and Unsettling Encounters
From that moment on, the stories began, passed down from former residents or told by visitors who returned with wide eyes and shaky voices.
1- Footsteps in the Dark
A local Emirati named Khalid S. recounted a visit in 2018 with his friends. They were filming the ruins at night when:
" We heard footsteps on the gravel behind us. We stopped. No one was there. We walked again, and the sound followed, closer this time. Suddenly, we saw a wooden door slowly close… on its own. "
2- Light in a Sealed Window
A woman driving past the village at sunset said she noticed a flash of light inside one of the mud homes—despite no power or signs of life.
“ The glow was cold… like a bluish neon. Then, just as quickly, it vanished. ”
3- The Drone That Malfunctioned
In 2021, a documentary team flew a drone over the old mosque. Though fully charged and operating in calm weather, the drone lost control and crashed. When they retrieved the footage, the entire video file was mysteriously gone.
Why Do People Say It’s Haunted ?
The most common explanation offered by locals is that the village became a haven for jinn—supernatural beings from Islamic folklore, after humans left. Its isolation, silence, and age made it the "perfect" place for spirits to settle. Some claim that specific spots, such as the tall, towered house—are avoided completely after dusk.
No official source supports these claims, yet deserted villages often become fertile ground for imagining the unseen. Over time, mystery transforms into folklore. And folklore… becomes belief.
Possible Explanations
1- Acoustic Illusions and Psychological Priming
The architecture of mudbrick homes, coupled with old wind towers, can create unusual echoes and howls when the wind blows. In such environments, fear heightens our senses—leading to the illusion of whispers, cries, or movement.
2- Electromagnetic Activity
Red soil and mineral-rich mud may generate mild electromagnetic fields. Some parapsychologists believe that such fields can trigger short-lived sensory hallucinations: sights, sounds, even feelings of presence, especially at night.
3- Cultural Encoding of Abandonment
In many cultures, abandoned villages are subconsciously linked with loss, sudden departure, and death. This makes them ideal vessels for collective myth-making. When people can't explain a silence… they create a voice for it.
Heritage and Haunting: Two Faces of One Place
Today, Ras Al Khaimah authorities are carefully restoring Al Jazirah Al Hamra as a heritage village. Guided walking paths have been laid out, and daytime tours are available. But oddly, this preservation hasn’t erased the legends, it may have amplified them. Visitors still swap stories, search for “the haunted house,” and wonder why no one has returned to live here despite intact homes.
Modern Development—But the Ghosts Remain
However, the original village remains untouched, protected as a historical landmark. Restoration efforts ensure that its traditional architecture, stories, and soul are not replaced, but preserved. Here, the ancient and the modern sit side by side as if time itself has split at the border of memory.
The Presence That Never Left
Are spirits really trapped between those walls ?
Or is it simply that fear follows us when we step into the places forgotten by time ?
Whether you believe in the supernatural or prefer scientific logic, one thing is certain: Al Jazirah Al Hamra is among the most mysterious sites in the Gulf. It’s not the walls that hold you, it’s the silence.
That silence that feels like a question with no answer: Who left… and who stayed?
And if you ever pass by those old windows… don't stare too long.
Something might be staring back.
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