Ras Al Khaimah’s famous Al Qasimi Palace, known as the ‘Haunted Palace’, is back on the market for Dh23.5 million with its original artefacts.
One of Ras Al Khaimah’s most mysterious landmarks is looking for a new owner.
Al Qasimi Palace, better known locally as the “Haunted Palace”, has returned to the property market with a price tag of Dh22.5 million without furniture, or Dh23.5 million with its original artefacts and collectibles, according to the agents handling the sale.
The four-storey palace was built in 1985 on a hill in Al Dhait by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, a member of Ras Al Khaimah’s ruling family.
The property sits on a 191,742-square-foot plot and has a built-up area of 33,827 square feet, with 35 bedrooms. It was previously offered for Dh25 million.
Bishop & Knight is representing the property, with managing partner Josh Henry saying the company has spoken with potential buyers who have different ideas for its future.
“We have got prospective buyers from the UK, India and even from the region itself who have expressed their interest and have put in their bids,” Henry said.
The palace has also attracted interest from outside the UAE. Luxury real estate adviser Abubakr Siddiq, who is working with Bishop & Knight on the sale, said prospective buyers from several countries have expressed interest.
According to Siddiq, much of the interest is linked to the development of Marjan Island and Ras Al Khaimah’s growing tourism sector.
Why is it called the ‘Haunted Palace’?
The palace has attracted public curiosity for decades, partly because it remained unoccupied for almost 35 years after it was built.
Its unusual history helped fuel stories about unexplained noises, flickering lights and ghostly figures. These remain local stories rather than established facts, but the palace’s reputation has become part of its identity.
The original owner reportedly never lived in the property. Family concerns over sculptures and artworks depicting humans and animals have been cited among the reasons the palace remained unused.
The construction cost has been reported at more than Dh500 million. Its elaborate interiors feature Thassos marble floors, painted ceilings, mosaics, frescoes, chandeliers and architectural elements influenced by Islamic, Moroccan, Persian and Indian styles.
Artisans from several countries, including Iran, Morocco, India and China, contributed to its design, while chandeliers were imported from France and Belgium. The palace also features a pyramid-shaped glass skylight that brings natural light into its central hall.
The property was later acquired by Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan, who restored it and reopened it to visitors in 2019 under the name Al Qasr Al Ghamedh, or “The Palace of Ambiguity”.
The restored palace has since been opened to the public, giving visitors a chance to see the elaborate interiors that helped make it one of Ras Al Khaimah’s best-known curiosity spots. ICA/Expat Media
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