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An abandoned desert village an hour from Dubai becomes another tourist attraction in a country filled with them

sara patel

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an abandoned desert village an hour from dubai becomes another tourist attraction in a country filled with them

Built in the 1970s to house semi-nomadic Bedouin, the village of Al-Ghuraifa an hour’s drive from the skyscrapers of Dubai stands as an eerie relic of the swift urbanisation of the UAE. But it’s still unclear what exactly led to its abandonment just two decades after the homes were built.

In recent years, the desert village near the town of Al-Madam in the Sharjah emirate has become a sort of tourist attraction in a country already filled with them, offering an escape from the glimmering skyscrapers and a sprawling network of modern highways in the coastal cities.

Built To Facilitate The Transition To A Settled Life

Comprising a mosque and two rows of homes, the village offers a glimpse at the UAE’s hardscrabble past. It “can teach us a lot of the modern history of the UAE,” said Ahmad Sukkar, an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah who is part of a team researching the site.

The village sheltered members of the Al-Ketbi tribe, Sukkar added. They were one of numerous Bedouin tribes that until then had led a semi-nomadic existence, raising animals, travelling among the oases and visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai when they were just small port towns.

Built to facilitate the transition to a settled life, the modern cement houses featured brightly coloured interior walls and some were even adorned with mosaics. One house had wallpaper depicting a lush green landscape, a stark contrast to the sandscape outside.

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Did Evil Spirits Drive The Residents Away?

While local lore suggests the residents had to abandon the village due to evil spirits, Sukkar says it’s more likely they left to find a better life in the fast-growing cities of the UAE. Sandstorms were major trouble, on top of limited access to water and electricity.

Currently, the vast desert is slowly reclaiming the village, with piles of sand nearly reaching the ceiling in some rooms. Only the mosque in the village remains as it was, thanks to maintenance workers from Al-Madam who regularly sweep the place.

Sara is your reliable guide for the Gulf region's intricate developments. She is a part of The Gulf Independent's dedicated and dynamic team, digging deep into stories to give you a thorough update, going beyond the headlines. Interest: Sara has a keen interest in exploring unexplored events. She has an affinity for investigative journalism and showcasing essential stories in a unique light. Her favourite topics include geopolitics, human rights, business, migrants and other important categories. Education and Experience: Sara's affinity for news grew manifold as she received her degree in Media Studies from the Bayan College in Oman. Now, she lets her curiosity and years of experience take the front seat as she embarks on a mission to highlight the most relevant and important events.

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