Al Jazeera Al Hamra to become a tourist attraction

Al Jazeera Al Hamra, one of the oldest villages in the United Arab Emirates, is to be turned into a tourist attraction in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Founded in the 17th century by the Al Zaab tribe, the historic village, whose name translates to ‘Red Island’, is of great cultural significance.

Work to restore the village began in 2010 and continues to this day. Paul Griffiths, general manager of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, said that preserving the village will help tell contemporaries about life on the shores of the Gulf during the heyday of the pearl trade. The centre of the settlement was the traditional Souq market, with no other shops on the island.

The Al Zaab tribe lived in 500 houses spread over a village of 45 hectares, they were involved in pearl fishing, trading, date growing and fishing. The buildings were originally constructed from coral stone and coastal pebbles and later restored using similar materials.

The first to be restored back in 2016 was a fort with a watchtower, which was used as a military base and served as the private residence of the local sheikh. It now hosts performances and events for the community and visitors to the emirate.

Plans are currently underway to build an indoor museum that will make the heritage village accessible to the public all year round. With the village located close to hotels and resorts, tourists will have an additional opportunity to delve into the history of Ras Al Khaimah.

The Al Jazeera Al Hamra attraction is currently open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Entrance is free of charge.

Source: Khaleej Times