Wind towers
In coral stone.
Slywire — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alexandermcnabb — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Karachun — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Karachun — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Clémence Jacqueri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sanjana Biju — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sanjana Biju — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sanjana Biju — CC BY-SA 4.0
An old coastal town south of Ras Al Khaimah city, founded in the late sixteenth century by the Za'ab tribe on a tidal island and named «the Red Island» after the reddish colour of its sands and soil. Its people lived from pearl diving and seafaring. In 1968 most of the townspeople moved to Abu Dhabi after a dispute with the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, leaving the houses almost empty, and stories grew of ghosts living there. Today it is the last intact pre-oil pearling and seafaring town of its kind in the Gulf and is on UNESCO's tentative list. The town has coral-stone houses with wind towers, a mosque with a conical minaret, a fort, market streets and lanes between crumbling walls, with coral fossils visible in the stones. Parts have been restored since the 2000s, and there is a visitor centre. Check opening times and fees locally. The site is exposed, so winter mornings or late afternoons are best; respect the fragile houses and don't climb them.
In coral stone.
A conical minaret.
From before oil.
South of Ras Al Khaimah city
Most of its people moved to Abu Dhabi in 1968 after a dispute with the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, leaving the houses almost empty; parts have been restored since the 2000s.