Mosque @ Ghost Town

An old Mosque @ Ghost town (Al Jazirah Al Hamra) Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Al Jazirah Al Hamra is a coastal town, 18 km south west of Ras Al Khaimah centre, divided into the old and new towns. The old settlement was created centuries ago (at least in the 14^th century) on a peninsula. For centuries, this coastal village was occupied by the Za’ab tribe. Since their livelihood depended mainly on pearling, the crisis of 1930s and the decline of natural pearl industry worsened the economic situation of the town. Around the 1960s-1970s, the old town was largely deserted when the inhabitants moved out attracted by the prospect of better living conditions offered by the local government. People left behind their houses, mosques and shops, creating an undisturbed picture of life before the exploitation of oil. The village managed to survive almost intact until the 21^st century and now it is the best preserved coastal town in the UAE.