There is nothing more thrilling than a good ghost story, and you won’t have to look far to find it; almost anywhere you go, you can find haunted places and take a ghost tour and learn all about the local legends of the paranormal.
Even if you don’t believe in ghosts or other paranormal phenomena, some of the most haunted places are worth visiting because of their stunning design, unique setting, or rich history.
Here are some of the haunted places in the Arab world.
Scary Haunted Places in The Middle East.
Baron Palace, Cairo – Egypt
The Baron Empain Palace also referred to as “Le Palais Hindou,” is a focal point for spooky stories and legends in Egypt and is proudly situated in Heliopolis, Cairo. It is one of the most famous haunted places in Egypt. In the early 1900s, Baron Empain, a Belgian industrialist, colonial businessman, and amateur egyptologist, constructed this magnificent palace. The Baron’s admiration influenced its design from the Hindu temples of Angkor Wat and Orissa in India and Cambodia.
A few years after it was built, the palace began to attract rumours of ghostly and terrifying happenings. The words began to spread when the Baron’s wife supposedly fell to her death from the palace tower and then his daughter a few years later. Few people believe that the palace’s famous tower stopped turning in mourning for the baroness at the time of her death. There was widespread speculation that hidden passageways beneath the palace connected to the Helopalis Basilica, where Baron Empain was interred.
The palace was left empty after Baron passed away, but it has since been featured in several Egyptian movies. The Egyptian government purchased and renovated the palace in 2020 and reopened it to the public in June of that year. Even though the palace is now open to the public, guests are cautioned against staying past sunset for fear of being possessed by the palace’s rumoured paranormal spirits and ghosts.
Al Jazirat Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah – UAE
Unusual noises. Chilling screams. Huddled whispers. You might hear some of these eerie noises when you visit Al Jazirat Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the scariest haunted places in the UAE. The island’s original inhabitants lived in homes constructed of coral, stones, and palm trunks. But now, the houses are empty because many tribe members have moved within the UAE due to urbanisation and the creation of new homes and opportunities.
Al Jazirat Al Hamra is called a “Ghost Town” because the tribes abandoned it and left it undeveloped. However, according to UNESCO, Al Jazirat Al Hamra is the last remaining traditional coastal town in the Gulf, with winding lanes, mosques, forts, watchtowers, and a suq tucked between centuries-old courtyard homes.
The most well-known attributes of Al Jazirat Al Hamra are its alleged haunting incidents and paranormal activities. This eerie reputation has become so famous that its terrifying lore has also travelled to the West. Such was the impact of the news of Al Jazirat Al Hamra that it was chosen as a location for the Ryan Reynolds action/thriller 6 Underground. The film was shot in 2018, and Netflix released it in 2019.
Al Madam, United Arab Emirates
Al Madam is one example of how ghost towns can be hauntingly beautiful. The village, which was abandoned soon after it was built and is located about 40 miles southeast of Dubai, was probably constructed in the 1970s. According to local lore, djinn (shape-shifting spirits) scared residents out of the area. Al Madam still has a ghostly feel to it even though no one is sure if the spirits have stayed. Al Madam, however, still exudes a ghostly aura due to the dunes encroaching on the two rows of houses and the mosque, the sand crashing through the broken windows, and the seemingly endless ochre desert that stretches out in all directions.