The metropolitan country of the United Arab Emirates perfectly epitomises the modern and futuristic infrastructure of the 21st century; but beneath the remarkable architectural marvels, there exists a deep-rooted base of rich Emarati culture and folklore. A great deal of this Emarati culture is nuanced by the practices and traditions of the numerous tribes and bedouins that once inhabited the country. Though their presence exponentially decreased, a lot of their myths and legends still lurk and cast a shadow on the dazzling emirates. Without further ado, here are some of the most ominous urban legends and sites in the UAE. Would you dare to visit them?

• The ‘Ghost Town’ of Ras al Khaimah

Deserts are indeed home to many mysteries. One of these is the neglected coastal village of Jazirat Al Hamra (translation: Red Island). Once a tidal island, Jazirat Al Hamra is swathed in mystery and perhaps even home to long-lived ghosts. The myth goes that it was once inhabited by three native tribes who unexpectedly deserted the town because of a culmination of strange activities that took place there. It is said that if one was to choose to stay overnight, they too would be the victims of the paranormal occurrences that drove the tribes away. Local citizens in the nearby region, to this day, refuse to visit the town in fear of the supernatural entities. Ghosts or not, Al Jazirat Al Hamra perfectly preserves Ras Al Khaimah’s history and is worth a visit to capture this essence. 

Without a doubt, one of the most well-known legends of Emarati folklore is the legend of Umm Al Duwais, a female ‘jinni. The story goes that Umm al Duwais was a dazzling woman with captivating features including luscious black hair and a luring voice. She would be covered in Arabic fragrances and gold from top to bottom. She would then sing to men in her sweet voice, coaxing them to come close to her and ultimately reveal her true identity of an old hag. Her looks were said to be so disturbing that the men she enticed were instantly dead or were brutally killed by her. This myth has been infamous among Emiratis, who narrate it to their children to scare them from going out at night. However, there are a number of residents who claim to have witnessed her with their own eyes. Another version of the legend claims that she haunts the abandoned town of Al Madam in Sharjah. 

The Qasimi palace of Ras-Al-Khaimah, is evidence of the opulence one can find in the UAE. However, the 500 million dirhams foundation remains uninhabited for nearly two and a half decades. The reason as to why remains supernatural. It was once circulated that the family that once resided there had abandoned the palace in just one night due to a great number of baffling circumstances such as furniture shifting around on its own and hearing petrifying wails of children. The palace, today open for visitors, still remains a mystery with tourists reporting hearing giggles of children and seeing glimpses of their faces through the palace windows. The explanation behind these circumstances remain unsolved but this only adds to the lustre of the palace.

**In Dubai’s Barsha area, are six indegenious ghaf trees which have been sealed off and bolted from the community. Yet, these specific ghaf trees are renowned for a far more disturbing reason. The trees are believed to be cursed. Supposedly the trees are planted atop ancient burial grounds and are haunted by the spirit of a beheaded merchant. Another legend inculcates the tale of a young man who fatally collided with the trees in an accident. His last words, spoke of having seen a jinn there. Upon investigation, scientists concluded that during the night, ghaf trees release relatively more carbon dioxide than any other surrounding trees, which may cause delusions for those who remain near them. But is this a sufficient explanation for all the deaths the trees are associated with?