Ras Al Khaimah’s most talked-about abandoned landmark is back on the market. The Al Qasimi Palace, known across the UAE as the “Haunted Palace”, is listed at Dh22.5 million unfurnished or Dh23.5 million with its original artefacts and collectibles, according to a Khaleej Times report published on 24 September 2026. The hilltop property has 35 bedrooms, a plot of 191,742 sq ft and a built-up area of 33,827 sq ft. Agents say the Haunted Palace for sale is drawing interest from buyers in the UK, India and the wider Gulf, many of whom point to Al Marjan Island and the emirate’s tourism push as the reason to look now.
What is on offer at the Al Qasimi Palace
The listing is being handled by Bishop & Knight. Its managing partner, Josh Henry, told Khaleej Times the firm has already held talks with several interested parties, and that each has a different idea of what the building should become. Bishop & Knight has partnered with Abubakr Siddiq, a luxury property adviser at Mehar Properties, to promote the palace to his large Instagram audience of buyers and investors. According to Siddiq, bids have already come in from overseas as well as from within the region.
The two asking prices are separated by Dh1 million, which covers the palace’s contents: the furniture, decorative pieces and collectibles gathered over its unusual history. At the unfurnished price, the palace works out at roughly Dh665 per square foot of built-up area, a figure that looks modest next to recent trophy sales in the emirate but comes with the cost of restoring a four-decade-old building.
The most striking detail is what the listing does not include: heritage restrictions. Unlike many historic properties in the UAE, the palace can be restored, remodelled, rebuilt or even demolished by a new owner. The agents describe it as suitable for residential, hospitality or tourism use, although any change of use would still need the relevant government approvals.
A 1985 landmark that was never lived in
The palace was built on a hill in 1985 by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, a member of Ras Al Khaimah’s ruling family. It was designed as a showcase of craftsmanship from across Asia and North Africa. Artisans from Iran, Morocco, India and China produced its mosaics, painted tiles and frescoes, while French and Belgian crystal chandeliers were hung from the ceilings and sculpted plaster birds emerge from the walls. Construction reportedly cost more than Dh500 million.
Sheikh Abdulaziz never moved in. One widely cited explanation is that members of the family objected to the building’s artworks depicting human and animal figures. Left empty for close to 35 years, the palace became the subject of local ghost stories, with tales of flickering lights and strange noises growing with each retelling. Those stories are what gave it the “Haunted Palace” name, and the agents say that reputation is proving to be a talking point rather than a deterrent for buyers.
In 2019, Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan gave the building a second life by opening it as a museum called Al Qasr Al Ghamedh, or “the palace of ambiguity”. Our Al Qassimi Palace visitor guide covers what you can see inside, from the tiled halls to the rooftop views.
Why the sale matters for Ras Al Khaimah
The timing is no accident. Ras Al Khaimah is in the middle of its biggest tourism and property cycle to date. The emirate welcomed a record 670,000 visitors in the first half of 2026, and Wynn Al Marjan Island, the UAE’s first integrated gaming resort, is due to open in 2027. Around it, a pipeline of new hotels and branded residences is transforming Al Marjan Island and pushing up land and property values across the emirate.
The luxury end of the market has already shown what buyers will pay. Earlier this year, a Sky Palace residence in Ras Al Khaimah sold for a record Dh130 million. Against that backdrop, a 35-bedroom palace with a famous name and freedom to redevelop is being pitched as a rare trophy asset, whether as a private family estate, a boutique hotel or an events venue.
It is also a reminder that Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal is not limited to new towers. Heritage sites, older neighbourhoods and one-off buildings like this give the emirate a character that is harder to find in newer destinations. The palace itself sits among mosques, shops and everyday activity rather than in isolation, which may shape what a buyer can realistically build there.
What this means for visitors
For now, the palace remains one of the most unusual places to visit in the emirate. Khaleej Times reports that entry to the museum costs Dh75 per person. Because a sale could change opening hours or access, check the latest details before you make the trip, and treat it as a short stop rather than a full-day outing.
If you are planning a day of heritage sightseeing, pair the palace with a visit to Dhayah Fort in the north of the emirate, and browse our full list of things to do in Ras Al Khaimah for ideas that fill the rest of the day.
For investors, the listing is a rare chance to buy a landmark with no heritage limits, but it will need careful due diligence on restoration costs, permitted uses and approvals. Anyone interested should work with a licensed agent and take independent legal advice before making an offer.
Source: Khaleej Times