Mysterious "ghost village" near Dubai

Built in the 1970s for semi-nomadic Bedouins, al-Ghuraifa village is part of a public housing project system created after the UAE was formed in 1971, comprising seven emirates.

Thirteen years after the 1971 milestone, oil fields were discovered, gradually transforming the UAE into a global trade and tourism hub, home to the futuristic cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Al-Ghuraifa was abandoned only about 20 years after its construction.

Recently, the "ghost village" near the town of al-Madam, located within the borders of the emirate of Sharjah (in the UAE), has become a global tourist attraction.

The entrance to the "ghost village" al-Ghuraifa in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: AP

The reason al-Ghuraifa is nicknamed "ghost village" is because the first thing visitors notice there is the strange silence that covers the entire place.

According to AP, the houses were abandoned with windows and doors open, some without doors at all. Rumor has it that this is a sign that people fled in a hurry and must have been scared by something.

Therefore, what makes tourists curious is the answer to the question of why the village has been mysteriously abandoned for many years.

"I wonder why the residents left. Was it a god or a witch? We will never have an answer," said Indian tourist Nitin Panchal when visiting the "ghost village" of al-Ghuraifa.

"The village, which consists of two rows of houses and a mosque, can tell us a lot about the history of the modern UAE," said Ahmad Sukkar, assistant professor at the University of Sharjah (UAE), a member of the research team on the mysterious village of al-Ghuraifa.

Mysterious "ghost village" near Dubai

The village was home to about 100 members of the al-Ketbi tribe. They were one of several Bedouin tribes that at the time were still semi-nomadic, herding cattle. They traveled through the desert and frequently visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi, then small port towns that relied on fishing and pearl diving.

The "ghost village" is attracting many tourists to visit. Photo: AP

It remains unclear exactly what led to the village being abandoned just 20 years after the houses were built.

According to local legend, the residents were driven out of the village of al-Ghuraifa by evil spirits. However, the truth may be much simpler.

“It is likely that residents are leaving the village to seek a better life in the UAE’s rapidly developing cities. The village has limited access to electricity and water and is regularly hit by sandstorms. Families will also face a long journey across the desert to reach Dubai,” Sukkar said.

Today, the village is in danger of being wiped out by the desert. In fact, sand has seeped into the rooms and almost reached the roofs. Only the mosque remains intact, thanks to regular cleaning by workers from nearby al-Madam.

Today, the village of al-Ghuraifa is facing the risk of being wiped out by the desert. Photo: AP

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/ngoi-lang-ma-huyen-bi-gan-dubai-20230819093109188.htm