Al Qasimi Palace, long surrounded by tales of the paranormal, is turning its ‘haunted’ reputation into an unusual selling point.
A palace that has long captured the curiosity and imagination of UAE residents is back on the market, with its reputation for being haunted emerging as a selling point rather than a deterrent. According to agents handling the sale, the property has attracted strong interest from investors with a range of ideas for its future.
Al Qasimi Palace in Ras Al Khaimah, widely known as the ‘Haunted Palace’, has been listed for Dh22.5 million without furniture, or Dh23.5 million with its original artefacts and collectibles included.
The sprawling 35-bedroom property sits on a 191,742-square-foot plot and has a built-up area of 33,827 square feet.
The palace is being represented by Bishop & Knight. Josh Henry, the company’s managing partner, said the agency has been in discussions with several interested buyers, who “each have a different vision for it.”
Bishop & Knight has partnered with Abubakr Siddiq, a luxury real estate adviser at Mehar Properties, to showcase the palace to his large Instagram audience of property buyers and investors.
According to Siddiq, the property has attracted interest from buyers both within the region and overseas.
“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,” he said.
He added that much of the interest from prospective buyers is being driven by expectations surrounding the future development of Al Marjan Island and Ras Al Khaimah’s broader push to expand its tourism sector.
History of the property
Al Qasimi Palace has fascinated residents and visitors for decades. Built in 1985 on a hilltop by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, a member of Ras Al Khaimah’s ruling family, the palace was conceived as an eclectic architectural masterpiece.
Artisans from Iran, Morocco, India and China contributed to the palace’s elaborate interiors, creating mosaics, painted tiles and frescoes, as well as walls decorated with ghazals and images of birds. French and Belgian crystal chandeliers adorned the ceilings, while sculpted plaster pigeons and owls were incorporated into the walls. The palace reportedly cost more than Dh500 million to build.
Despite its lavish design, Sheikh Abdulaziz never lived in the property. One reason is believed to have been family objections to sculptures and artworks depicting human and animal figures. The palace subsequently remained unoccupied for nearly 35 years, fuelling rumours and stories of unexplained happenings.
In 2019, Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan gave the property a new lease of life by transforming it into a museum called Al Qasr Al Ghamedh, or the ‘Palace of Ambiguity’. Visitors can enter the palace for Dh75 per person.
Future plans
According to Abubakr, the property has potential for residential, hospitality or tourism development. Its reputation as a ‘haunted’ palace also frequently comes up in discussions with prospective buyers. Stories of flickering lights and unexplained noises have circulated locally for years, contributing to the property’s mystique. He also noted that the palace is surrounded by mosques, shops and other everyday activity.
Josh said a buyer with the right vision could transform the property into something that adds significant value to Ras Al Khaimah.
“The palace could become a small kingdom of their own: a private estate where generations of a family can gather, with space to restore the building, shape the grounds and create something entirely personal,” he said.
“Another buyer might see the makings of a destination for hospitality or events, subject to the necessary approvals. What they share is the chance to give a remarkable place a new life without losing the history that makes it special,” he added.
Unlike many historic properties, the palace has no heritage restrictions, giving a future owner considerable flexibility to demolish, rebuild, remodel or renovate the property according to their plans.
