Perfect Weekend Getaway: Travel To Ghost Town In Sharjah

by Barbara Yakimchuk

Perfect Weekend Getaway: Travel To Ghost Town In Sharjah

10 Oct 2024

I think every city in the world likely has a ghost house. But if we scale it up — how about a ghost town? One such hidden gem is a Ghost Town in Sharjah, just a 40-minute drive from Dubai. The uniqueness of this place comes from the fact that it is almost completely buried in sand. Some people come here to admire the stunning landscapes shaped by nature; others travel to uncover the mysteries hidden within the walls of the abandoned houses. Either way, the town has recently attracted a lot of attention.

Ghost Town, also known as the Buried Village, is hidden in Sharjah, not far from Dubai, and has recently become one of the most mysterious and eerie places in the UAE. The village's roads and shabby houses (I will explain what they are later) are covered with sand, giving the place a vibe similar to the I Am Legend film. You can even step inside the houses where people once lived — though now, they are filled with sand that has slipped through the windows and doors. In some of them, there is absolutely nothing left; in others, you can still find old electrical wires sticking out from the walls and beautiful patterned tiles partially covering the floors.

From aerial photos, the village looks unusual — the houses are neatly located side by side, at equal distances and heights. However, when you arrive at the place, that feeling disappears. Instead, it feels as if the houses are scattered randomly across the area.

But, of course, its mystery does not lie in that. Let us dive a bit into the town’s history.

The history of the Ghost Town

There is no clear record of when the town was built, but in the UAE, people began constructing sha’bi houses in the 1960s as part of a settlement project initiated by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The aim of the project was to accommodate the Bedouin population and tie the people to the land, encouraging them to adopt a more settled lifestyle.

Since the houses were announced as a “gift to people” from the Sheikh in local newspapers, they earned the name sha’bi, as the word "shaab" means "people" in Arabic.

Sheikh Zayed introduced houses designed by western architects, but in the process, they were adapted to fit the culture and customs of the Muslim population. One key difference from the original design was adding privacy to the construction to ensure that people can allow themselves to feel a sort of freedom and remain uncovered inside their homes, without conflicting with local customs.

By the 1970s, this initiative reached the village of Al Madam. Like in other emirates, the goal was to provide homes for the Bedouin population, primarily the Al Ketbi trib and to unify all seven emirates.

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Why this village was abandoned

Mysterious theory

The exact year of abandonment is unknown, but it is clear that people left their houses quickly — some of them still contain fragments of furniture that were once used. Some locals attribute the people’s disappearance to “jinn”, who supposedly terrorised the community. According to Arab folklore, jinns are magical and dangerous spirits that can influence human minds — quite different from the lovely blue genie with a funny pigtail and a curl in the beard from the Aladdin movie.

Legend says that jinns attacked the village, forcing the inhabitants to flee, leaving behind everything they had.

Although not many people believe the tale, it still attracts tourists and residents from neighbouring emirates. I would say it is a clever marketing trick — at least it does what it is supposed to do! People want to travel to this place.

Scientific theory

Thanks to satellite images, scientists have proven that sand dunes can migrate. Smaller dunes move up to 100 metres a year — larger ones — move much slower.

The other theory suggests that since the Ghost Town is located in the Rub' al Khali desert, the most likely reason for its abandonment is the migrating sands that made life increasingly difficult. While the houses themselves were quite sturdy, the sand, which buried roads and crept into homes through windows and doors, made the area unlivable. At the same time, larger cities were growing, and it is likely that people simply used to travel away in search of better living conditions.

Instagram: @rakpedia

The mysterious travel ever: tips for the visit

The theories surrounding this Ghost Town are attracting a flow of tourists to this little Sharjah village all year round — people are not even afraid of the desert heat during the summer! Recently, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, announced plans to preserve the Buried Village and make it more visitor-friendly, so most likely there will be even more to see.

But you can travel to the Ghost Town right now — there are no entry restrictions or fees. Plus, with the cooler weather lately, it is a great time to go.

Just a little personal tip: it is probably better not to go there after sunset. Some people say the place feels calm and peaceful, but honestly, I find it a bit creepy — especially when you are stepping into one of those old houses all by yourself.

by Barbara Yakimchuk