HAUNTING TALES FROM A VILLAGE BURIED IN THE SAND
My grandmother used to tell us about fairy mother Umm Duwais, who had feet like those of a donkey, hands like a pair of machetes and cat eyes.” Umm Mohammad, former resident
Avillage buried in the Sharjah desert has been the central focus of various mysterious tales and has become a popular spot for adventure seekers and tourists. The mythical Ghuraifa village is located 2km southwest of Al Madam area in Sharjah, along the road between Dubai and Hatta. It consists of two rows of identical houses and a mosque at the end of the road.
The village was deserted by its former residents of Al Kutbi tribe 20 years ago. The residents left the locale in 1999 when the government provided them with new houses in a nearby area. The government also paid financial compensation for the removal of their old homes.
Popularly known as the ghost village, Ghuraifa is now a tourist destination. Photography enthusiasts go there for the picturesque landscape and fashion designers are keen to capture their haute couture in the backdrop of sand dunes.
Original residents of the village say memories of their old homes remain fresh within them. Abu Khalfan Al Kutbi, a former resident of the village, said he left the village 20 years ago and is now living in
Al Madam city. “We have unforgettable memories because I lived there with my family when I was a little boy. The dunes surrounding the village and the railroads between the houses are a common memory for me, my brothers and the friends of the neighborhood.
“We lived in the buried village in 1980s after its construction began in the late 1970s. The homes were immune to the sand dunes during the time. Our houses were located in the direction of eastern winds, which do not stop throughout the summer months.
“With the passing of years, the quantity of sand increased and covered large areas of the village. Yet, it didn’t bury them entirely and shows the resilience of these houses and their battle with the sand.”
He busted the myth that the villagers abandoned the village because of jinn.
Fatima Al Ketbi, another former resident, said: “I spent the most beautiful years of my life in this village, which was characterised by calmness, away from the noise of the city streets. Most roads leading to the village schools would often get buried in sand and it was difficult for students to attend classes.
“The government built new homes for us with all facilities. We still visit our old village. We can still distinguish the residents’ houses as we have permanent contact with them.
“We used to wake up early morning to the smell of freshly baked goodies, prepared at kitchens within the main yard. Men of the village gathered on top of the sand dunes to be served by the women and after eating and praying together, we would head home,” she added.
Umm Mohammad, another resident, said: “I spent my childhood in the village and also got married there. As a child, we played hide and seek in the dunes and also spent a lot of time chatting and laughing.
“My grandmother used to tell us about fairy mother Umm Duwais, who hid in the dunes. She is a terrifying legend who wears lingering perfumes to lure men and then finally kills them. According to her tale, Umm Duwais’s feet were like those of a donkey, her hands like a pair of machetes and she had cat eyes.”