Al Jazirah Al Hamra – The Ras Al Khaimah Ghost Town
Despite the fact that it is rarely included on tourist maps, Al Jazirah Al Hamra, often known as the Ras Al Khaimah Ghost Town, has piqued the interest of many curious tourists over the years.
The town is completely coated in a coating of red desert sand, which is eerily similar to RAK's past. However, the town is not just known for its rusty colored sand coating; there have also been reports of ghostly activity. It was even the subject of a 2013 psychological thriller called "Djinn," which was partially filmed in the town.
It is the last remaining survivors pearl diving and seafaring town on this side of the Gulf, but after being abandoned by its residents in the 1960s, it was left untouched for decades before being restored and becoming a popular filming location for Hollywood films in recent years, including films starring Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds.
War Machine and Ryan Reynolds' 6 Underground, with 6 Underground director Michael Bay stating, "We shot at Al Hamra." It's really adaptable to have a location where you can travel to another nation in five minutes."
Christian Velde, a Senior Archaeologist and Researcher at Ras Al Khaimah's Department of Antiquities and Museums, believes the settlement is one-of-a-kind, and that the ongoing restoration effort will secure its maintenance for subsequent generations.
What was the reason for the abandonment of Al Jazirah Al Hamra?
By 1830, the ancient tidal island was home to roughly two hundred Zaab tribal members, who had established the region into a well-known fishing and pearl trade hub. The village expanded in size throughout time, eventually reaching over two thousand inhabitants by the twentieth century. However, by 1968, everyone had left town and it was completely empty.
What led the people to flee their houses so abruptly, you might wonder? The cause, however, is still a source of contention. Some speculate that the town's abandonment was linked to tribal clashes with Ras Al Khaimah's king. Others claim that the people fled their village owing to the discovery of oil and the allure of Abu Dhabi's splendor. According to some accounts, supernatural events such as ghost sightings and hauntings drove them to flee.Nobody really knows at this point, however, what the reasons are.
A visit to this ghost town, on the other hand, is guaranteed to be intriguing and provide some insight into how life was here as it neared its conclusion.
Future of Al Jazirah Al Hamra
Al Jazirah Al Hamra, now a forgotten area of land in southern Ras Al Khaimah, remains uninhabited, despite the repurposing of ancient settlements and the emergence of new cities. In that way, this ghost town is currently one of the few settlements that existed prior to the discovering of oil.
The majority of the town's land is covered with debris. One can tiptoe through them at their own risk because there are no tour guides, guards, warning signs, or gates; one can go in and take in the history of this town without fear of being reprimanded.
Former inhabitants' family, on the other hand, still own their homes and are committed to preserving the hamlet and its history. They come back to town once a year to throw reunion parties.
Although there have been initiatives to bring the city back to life. The Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing art talent and exhibitions, recently conducted an outdoor large-scale visual arts and sculpture display in the town.This grabbed people's interest all throughout the UAE. However, there are no signs of reclamation or constructing a contemporary home out of it. This might be tied to a wish to maintain the country's history.
By Arifa Hussain - Mataflax Media
Comments
Post a Comment