In pictures: The buried village of Al Madam offers a glimpse of UAE's past

Photos

Login / Sign Up

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Gold / Forex

In pictures: The buried village of Al Madam offers a glimpse of UAE's past

It was built as part of a public housing project after the 1971 formation of the UAE

Published: August 16, 2023 09:57 AP

1 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_47298--58109-1692165251878 — Built in the 1970s to house semi-nomadic Bedouin, the village of Al Ghuraifa was abandoned two decades later as the country transformed itself into a global hub of commerce and tourism, home to the futuristic cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Image Credit: AP

2 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_69044--ce0a8-1692165246806 — In recent years, the ghost village near the town of Al Madam in the Sharjah emirate has become something of a tourist attraction. Image Credit: AP

3 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_village_08151--ba03f-1692165256981 — The village, which comprises two rows of homes and a mosque, “can teach us a lot of the modern history of the UAE,” said Ahmad Sukkar, an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah who is part of a team researching the site. Image Credit: AP

4 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_41570--4c15a-1692165254454 — It was built as part of a public housing project after the 1971 formation of the UAE. The village housed around 100 members of the Al Ketbi tribe, Sukkar said - one of several Bedouin tribes that until then had led a semi-nomadic existence. Image Credit: AP

5 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_48521--d5b38-1692165249579 — The modern cement houses, built to ease the transition to settled life, featured local flourishes. The interior walls were brightly colored, and some were adorned with mosaics. The homes also featured spaces where village elders could host local councils, known as “majlis” in Arabic. Image Credit: AP

6 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_82828--66e34-1692165241724 — One house had wallpaper depicting a lush green landscape, a stark contrast to the monotonous sandscape outside. Image Credit: AP

7 of 8

Copy of Emirates_Ghost_Village_78039--edb40-1692165244348 — The village had limited access to electricity and water, and was buffeted by sandstorms. Families would have also had to contend with a long commute across the desert to reach government jobs and schools in Dubai. Image Credit: AP

8 of 8

Reader picture — Nowadays the desert is slowly reclaiming the village. Drifts of sand have blown into the homes, and in some rooms, they obscure walls and nearly reach the ceiling. Only the mosque remains as it was, thanks to regular sweeping by maintenance workers from nearby Al Madam. Image Credit: Usman/Gulf News reader

Latest In

RTA announces new self-driving challenge

17 minutes ago
AMF: Al Neyadi reveals best thing he received in space

19 minutes ago
Thani Al Qamzi keen to finish on a high in Italy

33 minutes ago
SRK and Atlee thank South star Vijay for his wishes

35 minutes ago
UAE’s Lankester qualifies for dressage finals in Asiad

41 minutes ago

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.

Photos News

Trending