On a sunny Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, a local guide named Haseena took the lead to show us around an abandoned village situated by the banks of the Arabian Gulf. At first, you would see empty houses, left in ruins, sitting there soaking in the sun while the sea kissed its deserted shores. You’d expect an eerie feeling to run past you. But that afternoon, the village felt different, it felt like it was ready to tell us the tale of Al Jazeera Al Hamra.
Popularly known as the abandoned village resting between the red mountains and the sea, Al Jazeera Al Hamra has an incorrect reputation of being a ‘ghost town.’ On the contrary, our guide explained, that the village was abandoned in the late 1960s due to rapid changes in the pearl harvesting law in the country. But how did the pearl harvest bring about such a drastic change in a village? Let’s take you on a quick trip down Al Jazeera Al Hamra’s history.
What is Al Jazeera Al Hamra?
Al Jazeera Al Hamra was a thriving village until the 1960s. Owing to the proximity to the sea, the village predominantly housed deep divers who would go deep into the sea to hunt for the best pearls. The village was called Al Jazeera Al Hamra after a local tribe called Zaab that occupied the village. The village was home to pearl merchants, sea captains, fishermen, and their families.
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Our guide, during the tour, revealed that the sizes of the houses revealed the status of a pearl harvester. The bigger the house, the more popular the pearl harvester. She also informed us that while the village predominantly housed divers, there was one person who wasn’t a part of the diver community but was a trader. Owning the biggest house in the village, the merchant would help fishers and pearl harvesters get a good deal on their finds.
British Connection with Al Jazeera Al Hamra:
The village played a vital role when the Britishers invaded the country in the 1800s. The Englishmen tried to march into the country via the Gulf Sea. They attacked the ports but the village stood as a strong barrier between the country and the Brits during the war.
Why did the fishermen, and pearl harvesters vacate the Al Jazeera Al Hamra?
Following the discovery of oil in Arab countries, pearl merchants and divers began to lose their livelihoods. As a result, in the years between 1968 and 1971, the villagers began to migrate out of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. Soon, all that was left of the village were empty houses.
Why Should You Visit Al Jazeera Al Hamra?
Al Jazeera Al Hamra houses the remarkable history of the Northern regions of the United Arab Emirates. The deserted village has preserved the architecture of the centuries-old homes, that feature sun-dried corals, fossilised beach rock, date palm trunks, layers of seashells for drainage, and rooms that could give the rental apartments in Mumbai a run for their money, and mosque, a portion of which dates back to the 1500s. At the time of reporting, the Al Jazeera Al Hamra village is on the UNESCO World Heritage Cultural tentative list.
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Best Time To Visit:
The best time to visit the Al Jazeera Al Hamra is between October and April. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00AM – 5:00PM.
