Ras Al Khaimah's 'Haunted Palace' hosts a Halloween market for local businesses
Shoppers joined visitors curious about Al Qasimi Palace at a three-day Halloween-themed pop-up in Ras Al Khaimah. Held October 16-18, 2026, the event gave small businesses a setting for meeting customers, with Blissfy and Mido both making their pop-up debuts.
Layla Haddad
A first outing for two businesses
The palace, locally nicknamed the "Haunted Palace," welcomed crowds to browse stalls run by small businesses and cafés while exploring the building. Khaleej Times identified the event as the Qasr Al Jin pop-up. The Ras Al Khaimah Events Calendar listed it as "Connect Popup," organized by Hessa Suwaidan Event Management, with admission priced at AED 25.
For Blissfy owner Fatima Al Blooshi, the location helped persuade her to sign up. She expected the palace's reputation to draw people who had never been inside, giving her newly launched business a chance to meet potential customers.
"What encouraged us to take part was that the pop-up concept was different from the usual events. There was a sense of mystery and something unusual that would spark people's curiosity," she told Khaleej Times.
This was Blissfy's first pop-up since its official launch. Al Blooshi described the three days as demanding but rewarding, reporting large crowds, good sales and a positive response to her products. The building's architecture and atmosphere also left an impression on her.
Mido owner Maryam Eissa Al Blooshi likewise chose the event for her first experience selling at a pop-up, hoping to reach people unfamiliar with the business. Meeting visitors in person allowed her to present Mido's products and learn more about customers' preferences.
Although the palace's stories had intrigued Maryam, she did not find the building frightening. "The stories associated with the palace added to the atmosphere and increased our curiosity, but the place wasn't scary. On the contrary, the atmosphere made the experience more enjoyable," she said. She singled out the mix of spookiness and enjoyment, along with visitors' interest in both the venue and the products.
Shopping alongside childhood stories
Lifelong Ras Al Khaimah resident Jana Belal attended with a friend, finally getting to explore a building familiar from childhood conversations and tales.
"Growing up in Ras Al Khaimah, anytime we drove past the palace or even talked about it in school, it was always associated with ghosts and scary stories," she told Khaleej Times. Going inside brought those memories back.
"It was something we had known about our whole lives, and it wasn't open to the public for that long. So the fact that we were able to go there felt really cool," she said.
Belal's interest extended beyond the venue. Having run a small business herself, she makes a point of buying from independent sellers when visiting pop-ups. "I always want to support small local businesses. It was really nice to have them all in one place where everyone was supporting each other," she said.
Halloween is among her favorite annual occasions, and she enjoyed the themed merchandise and stall decorations. An animal lover, she also welcomed the animals brought to the event.
Upstairs, Belal explored rooms containing artifacts, furniture and decorative objects with varied cultural influences. "Each room had a theme, and you could tell that a lot of thought was put into every single piece, from the bed frames and paintings to the little decorations," she said.
The palace behind the reputation
The palace's history stretches back decades. According to The National, the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Qasimi, a member of Ras Al Khaimah's ruling family, commissioned it. The building permit dates to June 2, 1975. Its foundations and structure required a decade of work before artisans arrived from around the world to decorate the interiors.
AD Middle East puts its completion in 1991 and its estimated cost at more than Dh500 million. The publication reports that Sheikh Abdulaziz and his family may never have lived there.
In 2019, his heirs sold the property to businessman and art collector Tareq Ahmad Al Sharhan. Following roughly six months of restoration, it reopened as a museum called Al Qasr Al Ghamedh, meaning "The Palace of Ambiguity," according to AD Middle East.
Wasim Halabieh, who manages the palace and speaks for its owner, offered an explanation for some of the noises that fed its haunted reputation. He told The National that people entering without permission while the property stood empty accounted for at least some of those sounds.
Outside the pop-up, the palace operates as a museum. Visit Ras Al Khaimah lists daily hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with admission of AED 75 per person or AED 50 per person for groups. Photography inside is not permitted.
