UAE’s Famous Haunted House Goes on Sale for AED 25 Million

The Al Qasimi Palace, an opulent but long-abandoned mansion steeped in local ghost folklore, has been listed for sale at Dh25 million — with a strict condition that only Emirati buyers may acquire it.

Built in 1985 by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, the four-storey palace spans 20,000 square metres in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Dhait area. It houses 35 rooms and fuses Islamic, Moroccan, Persian, and Indian design influences. Interiors feature Belgian and French chandeliers, Thassos marble flooring, hand-painted ceilings, and a glass pyramid that channels sunlight into the central atrium.

A palace built but never lived in

Despite its grandeur, the Sheikh never moved in. Family objections to statues and artworks depicting people and animals meant the property was left vacant, and over the decades, local lore filled the silence — from flickering lights and echoing footsteps to sightings of ghostly silhouettes.

Only Emiratis may buy it.

Speaking to Gulf News, current owner Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan confirmed that regulations restrict registration to Emirati nationals.

“The sale is for investment purposes. The palace holds cultural and historical value and deserves an owner who understands that,” Al Sharhan said.

Estimated construction costs reportedly exceed Dh500 million.

Legends, restoration, and public reopening

Locals still trade stories about jinn allegedly linked to a tree cut down during construction or to the structure’s ominous night-time silhouette. The palace once attracted interest from high-profile buyers, including former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, but no deal ever materialised.

Al Sharhan later purchased the property from the Sheikh’s heirs, restored it, and reopened it to the public under the new name Al Qasr Al Ghamedh — “The Palace of Ambiguity.”

“People come for the legend, but its true value lies in its craftsmanship and heritage,” he said.

The property remains open for visitors while the sale is under consideration.