‘Haunted Palace’: Ras Al Khaimah mansion hits the market for Dh25 million
Owner confirms sale open only to Emirati nationals
DUBAI – A mansion wrapped in myth, art and whispers of the supernatural has just been put up for sale in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Qasimi Palace – known to generations as the “Palace of Ghosts” – is now listed at Dh25 million, offering buyers a chance to own one of the UAE’s most storied landmarks.
Built in 1985 by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, the four-storey palace sprawls across 20,000 square metres and boasts 35 rooms. Its opulent design fuses Islamic, Moroccan, Persian and Indian styles, with hand-painted ceilings, Thassos marble floors, and chandeliers sourced from France and Belgium. A glass pyramid crowns the roof, capturing sunlight that filters down through twin domes into the grand central hall.
In an interview with Gulf News, the current owner, Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan, confirmed that the palace is officially for sale – with one strict condition. “According to Ras Al Khaimah’s property regulations, the palace can only be registered under an Emirati name,” he explained. “My purpose for the sale is purely investment. The palace carries great cultural and historical value, and I believe it deserves an owner who appreciates both.”
The 'Haunted Palace' of RAK
Standing high on a sandy hill in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Dhait district, the mansion commands sweeping views of the city. It was once built as a royal residence, yet Sheikh Abdulaziz never lived there. Family objections to sculptures depicting people and animals meant the palace was left unoccupied – and over the years, the silence gave rise to stories.
Locals began to speak of flickering lights, echoing footsteps, and ghostly faces glimpsed through the stained-glass windows. Some tales linked the hauntings to a tree cut down during construction that was said to shelter jinn. The mansion’s eerie reputation grew so famous that even former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was rumoured to have shown interest in buying it, though no sale took place.
Where myth meets art
Behind its haunted reputation lies a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship. Construction reportedly cost more than Dh500 million, with elaborate frescoes and celestial murals that map the twelve zodiac constellations. The result is a palace that feels part museum, part legend – a place where art, culture and mystery intertwine.
Restoration and reopening
Years later, Al Sharhan acquired the property from the Sheikh’s heirs and began restoring it to its former glory. “The goal was always to share its story – its history, art, and mystery,” he said. “People are drawn to the legend, but the palace’s real beauty lies in its craftsmanship and heritage.”
Now renamed Al Qasr Al Ghamedh – Arabic for “ambiguity” – the mansion is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 7 pm. Those who dare can wander through its marbled corridors and chandelier-lit halls, where legend meets luxury at every turn.
For serious buyers, Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan can be reached via WhatsApp at 052 828 2222.