If you’re coming to the United Arab Emirates and you’ve always wanted to visit an abandoned village half-buried under desert sand, you’re in luck.
Al Madam Buried Ghost Village is exactly that.
It’s a ghost town in the middle of a sand desert. Since it was abandoned, the sand has slowly reclaimed the village.
It’s easy to visit if you know where to go and what to take into account, and it offers stunning photo opportunities.
To help you plan your trip, we have put together this guide. Plus, we have included some of our favourite photos as inspiration, so you know what to expect.
Are you short on time and still need to plan your trip? Then check out the following resources, which you’ll find helpful.
Book a hotel in Dubai:
- XVA Art Hotel (mid-range, beautiful boutique hotel in Dubai’s historic district)
- Sheraton Dubai Creek Towers (a bit more comfort, five-star luxury overlooking the Dubai Creek)
- Landmark Hotel (budget, comfortable rooms and a rooftop pool)
Want to visit Al Madam on a tour? Take a look at this tour to Al Madam Buried Ghost Village.
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How to visit Al Madam Buried Ghost Village
What is Al Madam Buried Ghost Village?
The Al Madam Buried Village is a town near Al Madam, about an hour away from Dubai, that was abandoned in the 1990s.
Ever since then, the desert has been reclaiming the village.
These days, it’s a cool spot for exploring and taking photographs.
We know from records that the Al Madam Buries Ghost Village was built in the 1970s, so it’s not an old development. People lived there for around 15 years before moving out of their houses.
Why was the Al Madam village abandoned? It’s not exactly clear, although there are a few theories thrown around.
Some say it was frequent sandstorms that caused people to move out, others blame it on modernisation and better living conditions in surrounding villages and towns that made people move.
Finally, there are also stories about jinn and the town being haunted, about desert ghosts that chased out the residents.
Even though the neighbourhood was only abandoned in the mid-1990s, it’s impossible to pin down the exact cause.
Whatever the case, the houses now stand abandoned in the middle of the desert.
How to get to Al Madam Buried Ghost Town
Al Madam Buried Ghost Village is located in the emirate of Sharjah, about an hour away from Dubai.
Getting there is easy, but you will need either a car or you need to join a guided tour. There’s no public transport that can take you to the ghost town.
If you’re driving, get off Road E55 at the intersection that takes you to the Al Madam industrial area (here on Google Maps). Follow the road straight to the very end, then turn right to get to the ghost village.
There’s a parking lot in front of the Al Madam Buried Ghost Town where you can leave your car.
The road to get here is not fully asphalted, but it’s in good enough condition that you usually don’t need a 4×4. We had one, but we didn’t use the 4×4 function and just drove normally. It was a bit bumpy, but still easy to drive.
Be careful when entering the location in Google Maps, as we’ve noticed that it sometimes wanted to send us straight through the desert. Take the intersection we’ve mentioned above (this one), as that’s the only road that leads to the ghost village.
Also, be aware that Al Madam is the name of a town just north of the ghost town. Or rather, I believe the ghost village was named after Al Madam, the closest town. Don’t confuse those two when driving there.
If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, you can join a tour. There aren’t many tour operators, so your options are limited. Check out this one, which takes you to Al Madam Buried Ghost Village.
Practical information for your visit
The town is fenced off, with a parking lot right in front of the gate.
There’s a security guard at the gate who can help in case of any questions. The gate closes at around 6pm, so make sure you leave before then.
While you can take as many photos as you want with your phone, bigger cameras are not permitted. Daniel wanted to take his Sony Alpha and was told that he couldn’t use it in the ghost village.
Besides the guard at the gate, there are no facilities around. Therefore, make sure to bring plenty of water with you. The village is in the middle of the desert, and while there are a few trees that offer shade, the sun can be merciless.
Also, put on plenty of sunscreen before your visit.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Al Madam Buried Ghost Village is from late autumn to early spring. In the UAE, that means somewhere between October and April.
In summer, temperatures can get mercilessly hot. There are a few trees where you can get shade, and you can enter the buildings. However, your visit will be much more enjoyable if you don’t have to constantly worry about escaping from the sun.
We came here in early November, and it was still very hot, but bearable.
Things to do near Al Madam Buried Ghost Village
If you’re coming this far out into the desert, there are a few things you can see nearby. Why not make it a one-day road trip with some other stops along the way?
Here are some attractions that are in the area:
Desert tour
The desert close to Al Madam is popular with tour operators. Many operate excursions from Dubai, with activities like dune bashing, buggy rides or sandboarding.
Some also allow you to join them on the spot.
We are not big fans of dune bashing, as I get motion sick during such activities. However, if that’s something you like, you’ll find lots of opportunities nearby.
Oh, and one word of advice. Always go with a tour operator. Even if you have a 4×4, never try to drive into the dunes yourself.
It’s not safe, and it’s much more difficult than it actually looks.
Off Road History Museum
A bit north of the ghost town, you can find the Off Road History Museum. This museum is home to more than 300 cars.
It’s the private collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, and it’s amazing how large it is.
You can easily spend a few hours here if you enjoy cars and look at them in detail.
But even if, like us, you’re not a car enthusiast, this museum is interesting for the historic cars, the really big ones, and just to see the size of the collection.
Mleiha Archaeological Centre
The archaeological centre of Mleiha is around half an hour of driving away from the ghost village of Al Madam, and it’s well worth a visit.
The area around Mleiha has a long history, and the museum teaches you about the first settlements in the area as well as human settlements during the Bronze Age.
It’s a great place if you want to learn more about the region’s history.
The Life Boats
If you like abandoned places like Al Madam Buried Ghost Village, you should combine your visit there with a short stop at the abandoned lifeboats.
Those lifeboats stand on the edge of Mleiha, in the middle of a strip of desert. We don’t know how they got there, but they make for a fantastic photo opportunity.
There you have it, everything you need to know about visiting Al Madam Buried Ghost Village.
If you found this post helpful, or if you’ve already been to the ghost town, leave us a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.
Also, while you’re here, check out the following posts about the UAE, which you’re going to find interesting:
- How to visit Wadi Shees, our favourite place in the UAE
- This is the best Emirati food that you need to try
Until your next adventure!
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