Only an hour from the skyscraper-filled Dubai skyline lies the Ghost Town of Al Madam – the towering spire of an old mosque rising from among the dunes, the buildings slowly consumed by the moving sands.
Located in the Emirate of Sharjah, the Al Madam Buried Village stands in contrast to sleek and shiny nearby Dubai, a hauntingly beautiful site home to countless legends. There’s still plenty of speculation as to what – or who – forced residents to abandon Al Madam, but there’s certainly an otherworldly energy in this abandoned town far out in the desert.
In this guide, I’ll explain everything you should know about Al Madam Ghost Town as well as how to visit independently on a day trip while visiting the UAE. Love abandoned places? Check out all my guides to unique abandoned sites around the world!
PRO TIP: Stay until the end to watch a video all about my visit to Al Madam!
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Guided Tours of Al Madam
Don’t want to DIY? Check out these guided tours to the Al Madam Ghost Town.
🐪 Private Tour to Al Madam Village – Visit Al Madam with a Private Guide with pickup from Dubai, Sharjah, or Ajman
👻 Ghost Town Sharjah Tour – Explore Al Madam with a small group and private guide
What is the Al Madam Ghost Town?
The Al Madam Buried Village is a ghost town located in the Emirate of Sharjah, an hour away from downtown Dubai. The Al Madam village consists of two rows of homes with a beautiful green mosque at the end. Located in the middle of the vast Mleiha desert it’s a unique abandoned site – the desert landscape slowly consuming the houses like ocean waves.
Records show that the Al Madam Village was constructed as part of the Sha’bi housing project by the UAE government in the mid 1970s. This initiative aimed to build permanent settlements for the nomadic Bedouin populations that lived in the desert. Al Madam was specifically home to the Al Ketbi tribe.
The town was only occupied for 15 years, from 1980 to 1995. Many of its former residents recall happy memories of life in the village, filled with feasting and community. Others recall more sinister experiences with residents – human and non human.
Recommended Reading: I Went to a Camel Beauty Pageant – Visiting the Al Dhafra Festival in the UAE
why was Al Madam Abandoned?
There are a couple of theories as to what forced residents to leave the Al Madam Village. While the people of the UAE had long grown accustomed to the harsh conditions of the desert environment, part of this survival evolved through constant movement, always in search of the next water source.
One theory suggests that the physical conditions at Al Madam Village did not lend themselves to long-term survival. Strong winds filled homes with sand and a lack of electricity and infrastructure made life in the desert difficult. Further theories suggest that as larger cities grew along the coastline, many families moved out of small villages to seek further opportunities.
However, other theories suggest something more supernatural at play in Al Madam. Many locals believe that the abandoned village is occupied by jinns, invisible creatures known to take on many forms and even possess the people around them. Local legend says that the sands of Al Madam are inhabited by an evil group of jinns who ultimately forced out the inhabitants, and still reside in the sand to this day.
Recommended Reading: A Guide to Al Jazirat al Hamra – An Abandoned Pearl Fishing Village in the UAE
What Can You Do at Al Madam Village?
Visiting Al Madam Ghost Town is certainly one of the most unique experiences to have in Dubai. In contrast to the skyscraper-ridden skylines of the coastal cities, visiting Al Madam feels like a step back in time.
Al Madam is a popular spot for urban exploring and photography. With half-buried buildings and remnants of life once lived in the village, it’s a photographer’s paradise to explore. We once even spotted a Bollywood film being filmed there while we were visiting!
If you have a proper car, the dunes surrounding Al Madam are one of the most popular places in the Emirates for dune bashing. Arrive around sunset and you’ll likely spot plenty of Emirati dudes in kandoras traversing over the mountains of sand. If you want to go dune-bashing yourself, here’s a highly rated desert safari in the surrounding Mleiha dunes, or an even more adventurous self-drive dune-buggy tour.
Camping is another popular activity near Al Madam Village. I recommend camping in the dunes outside the village, especially if you plan to cook food over a grill. As always, practice Leave No Trace principles and leave the area better than you found it.
Of course, if you’re brave, you can certainly venture back to the village at night and see if you spot any jinns. Brave ghost-hunters will certainly find this enticing, but please be respectful in your interactions. Remember that for many people in the area, these legends hold great truth.
Recommended Reading: 6 Things to Do in Wadi Shees – My Favorite Small Town in the UAE
How to Get to Al Madam Ghost Town
Al Madam Village is an easy 1 hour drive from the Emirate of Sharjah or 1.5 drive from the Emirate of Dubai. The drive itself is a highlight – keep an eye out for the towering Sharjah Mosque or take a break at Fossil Rock along the way!
From Dubai or Sharjah, take Emirates Road (Route E611) and turn onto Route E44 to reach Al Madam. Click here to find the location of Al Madam on a map, or put the following coordinates into your GPS: 24.894603, 55.763657
PRO TIP: Occasionally, Google Maps will try to route you through the desert for the last stretch of the drive. I don’t recommend this route unless you have 4WD. If this is the case, I recommend inputting Al Fariq Contracting (Google Maps location) which is located right behind the parking lot for Al Madam.
Tips for Visiting Al Madam Ghost Town
Before you set off on a desert adventure, here are a few tips for visiting the Abandoned Village of Al Madam.
2WD vs. 4WD: You do not need 4WD to visit Al Madam Village, though you will certainly need it if you plan to go dune bashing! The parking lot for the village is accessible via 2WD.
Wear Closed-Toed Shoes: Since Al Madam is abandoned, there is still plenty of debris buried in the sands. Closed-toed shoes are recommended to protect your feet while exploring.
The Mosque is Still Active: At the end of the village lies a beautiful green mosque. Please note that this mosque is still an active space or worship for many workers in the area. While you can explore the other buildings in the village, please stay out of the mosque unless you are actively worshiping.
Cost to Visit: The Al Madam Village is completely free to visit granted you have your own transportation. If you do not have a vehicle, you will need to pay for transportation and a guide.
Keep an Eye Out for Camels: There are many active camel farms nearby, so keep an eye out for camels wandering in the sands outside the village! As always, keep your distance unless a camel approaches you.
Recommended Reading: The Dubai Camel Races – All Your Questions Answered
Watch: We Visited an Abandoned Village in the Middle of the Desert
Check out the video below to learn all about our adventure to the buried village for putting together this guide.
Al Madam is truly one of the most unique adventures in the United Arab Emirates, showing a side of the country’s history that is often shrouded by the glitz and glam along the coast.
If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-track adventures in the UAE, Al Madam is the best place to start. This village nestled among the dunes is a look into life past and present in the Emirates, and invites visitors to consider the many stories the country is built upon. Looking for more unique adventures in the UAE? Check out my guide to the best hikes in the country, or cool down with adventures on the country’s eastern coast. Want to keep exploring the Middle East? Check out all my guides to exploring nearby Oman.
UAE Quick Links
✈️ Flights – Use Kiwi.com or WayAway to find the cheapest and fastest flights to the UAE
🛏️ Accommodation – Find the best places to stay throughout the UAE on Booking.com
✅ Get Insured – I personally use Safety Wing Nomad Insurance for my travels all around the world! VisitorsCoverage is another great option.
🚗 Rent a Car – Find the best deals for a UAE road trip on RentalCars.com
🗺️ Find Things to Do – Check out Get Your Guide or Viator for exciting adventures all around Kenya
☎ Buy a Sim – Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries and regions
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Virginia Taylor (Ginna) is a travel writer and photographer exploring the world until her boots wear through. She’s currently on a mission to explore all 32 departments of Colombia, though she formerly called the Middle East home. Want to know more? Visit the About Page.
Prior to reading this post, I had never heard of Al Madam but WOW! Sign me up! I would love to go. This looks absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing
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Thank you so much for the tip! Sounds like a unique place to visit!