Genie in a bottle, a cave of wonders, the desert rose, the mysteries of the Middle East have long intrigued the curious. While some prefer the comfort of the familiar, others are drawn to the thrill of the unknown. If you’re among the brave who dare to venture into the eerie and unexplained, then the haunted palace of Ras Al Khaimah might just give you chills.
An hour’s drive from glitzy Dubai and secluded deep within the vast Arabian desert, Al Qassimi Palace, also known as Al Qasr Al Gamedh, feels ripped straight from a goosebumps-inducing horror movie. Built in 1985 by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qassimi, a member of one of Sharjah’s six ruling families, once renowned for their powerful maritime presence in the Persian Gulf, this lavish structure was intended to be a grand royal residence.
The sheikh spared no expense, crafting a masterpiece inspired by Islamic and Arabic architectural principles.
The location was nothing short of spectacular, sweeping dunes, perched grandly atop a hill, a private utopia where nothing could go wrong. Except, it did, and in the most terrifying way imaginable. Despite spending a jaw-dropping AED 500 million (approximately $140 million back then) on luxurious chandeliers, rare musical instruments, global antiques, elegant sitting rooms, bedrooms, and a study, the family abandoned the palace after just one night. It wasn’t the desert’s heat or howling winds that drove them away; it was something far more chilling and paranormal than they could bear.
The dream home quickly turned nightmarish when the owners realized they weren’t alone. Haunted whispers echoed through the halls, and strange, otherworldly presences made their mark. The terror was so intense that the affluent owners fled, leaving behind not only their possessions but also any concern for the fortune they had poured into the palace.
Over time, the palace fell into public lore, becoming a magnet for thrill-seekers drawn by stories of shadowy figures, eerie wails, and ghostly children peering from behind stained-glass windows. Things got morbid, fast.
Sounds like a doomed palace, doesn’t it? But as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever, not even the darkest night. In 2019, after years of speculation and spine-tingling rumors, the Emirate decided to open the palace’s doors to visitors. A thorough renovation and an exorcism, just to be safe, breathed new life into the haunted halls, transforming Al Qassimi Palace into a fully-fledged museum.
Now, you can explore its 35 rooms adorned with classical furniture and authentic art pieces, marvel at the towering pyramid structure crowning the mansion, and wander through a serene garden complete with a lake and fountain. All of this can be experienced for a mere AED 75, or AED 50 ($15-$20) if you’re visiting with a group, according to SceneNow.
Perhaps the palace could become the home of the millionaire who bought the residence featured in ‘The Conjuring’ for a cool $1.5 million at Sotheby’s.
