The last pearling centers in the Arabian Gulf
Al-Jazeera Al-Hamra .. A long past and a dive into the ancestral heritage
Al-Jazirah Al-Hamra has gained a prominent place from a historical perspective and from the perspective of restoration as well. From the source
Al-Jazirah Al-Hamra is a small fishing village in the south of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, with a long past that stands deep in the history of the region, and its buildings that stand steadfast despite their feet still foretell a promising future, as the village is one of the most historically and culturally important places in the Arabian Gulf.
Al-Hamra Island has a long history, as it is one of the last sites out for ships to dive in search of pearls and marine navigation activities on this side of the Arabian Gulf. The island's inhabitants abandoned in the sixties of the last century, and remained unchanged for many years, until restoration work began, and later became one of the attractive locations for filming a number of Hollywood films in recent years, where films starring international actors, such as Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds.
Al-Hamra Island was a tidal island until the seventies of the last century, and it was included as part of a large land reclamation project to become part of the mainland, and the abandoned houses and paths on the Red Island became a destination that raises the curiosity of the residents of the neighboring regions. The region is currently witnessing a quantum leap through a project to restore and rehabilitate the area to become a tourist and cultural site, in addition to hosting the Ras Al Khaimah Festival for Visual Arts in its sixth and seventh editions inside one of its restored forts.
Christian Velde, chief archaeologist at the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Ras Al Khaimah, considers the "Red Island" village a unique place, and that the ongoing restoration work will preserve it for generations to come.
Felda added: “The Red Island represents the last and only town to dive in search of pearls, pearl trade and maritime navigation on this side of the Gulf. All other villages and towns have disappeared in the folds of time due to development and modernity, but the Al-Jazirah Al-Hamra village is the only place that has preserved the traditional way of life and the traditional way of building.
He added, “The Big Island settled at some point in the 17th century to become an important site rich in marine resources. And its location in a lake has brought an additional benefit to it, which is the ease of defending it.There is no clear information about the early inhabitants of Al-Hamra Island, but it is likely that it was settled by the Al-Zaab tribe in the period between the 17th and 18th centuries AD, when the Al Zaab tribe was one of the Arab tribes that worked In marine navigation and pearl diving, the Al-Zaab settled in Al-Hamra Island until the late 1960s, when a large number of the tribe’s inhabitants moved to Abu Dhabi, leaving most of the dwellings on their current status, which contributed to their survival and preservation from destruction.
Christian Velde noted: “The restoration process focused on the castle and many mosques and buildings of importance, such as the Bin Dalam House, the Omran House, and the Abdul Karim House, in addition to an area close to the market. The project continues according to a specific timetable for the ongoing delicate restoration.
Mosques are of special importance in the region, where there are a large number of mosques built during different periods, and in one of these excavations a site was found where the Great Mosque was built repeatedly on the same land, an average of seven mosques over the course of more than two centuries. One of its stages was mentioned in British documents in the 18th century, while another mosque was relocated during several rebuilding operations.
To this day, much of the original pearling village remains intact, making it an intriguing place to wander, as passersby evoke feelings of going back in time to the 1950s and 1960s. It is clear that these factors made it an attractive location for filmmakers from all over the world, and there is no doubt that the dirt back streets of Hamra Island will serve as filming locations for many films during the next phase.
For his part, Ahmed Obaid Al Tunaiji, Director General of the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Ras Al Khaimah, said: “The Red Island has become an area of great importance to the community of Ras Al Khaimah and those interested in it, which will tell the story of the village and maintain its existence for future generations. The restoration of an area of great historical importance not only for the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, but for the Arab Gulf region as a whole, is a testament to the insightful vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who follows with great interest the development and progress of work on the project, He is the main supporter of the work we do.
He added, "The Department of Antiquities and Museums has started extensive work to rehabilitate the areas of the Red Island and restore their past glories, starting from the fort that hosts the Ras Al Khaimah Festival for Visual Arts."
The ongoing project seeks to open the village to tourists, and to provide it with information panels in both Arabic and English, many of which have already been placed in the Citadel area open to the public, which provide details on the history, construction, and materials used in the buildings. In addition, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority intends to benefit from and enhance the region in the future, and is putting on its agenda live events, museums, retail outlets and handicraft workshops.
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Universal movies
The adoption of Al Jazeera Al Hamra as a location for filming the films "War Machine" by Brad Pitt and "6 Underground" by Ryan Reynolds contributed to shining the spotlight on it as a promising center for filming international films. In this regard, Michael Bay, director of "6 Underground" said: "We filmed in Red Island. The diversity in the region is absolutely amazing. ”
Welcome to travelers from around the world
Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “The Red Island is an integral part of the cultural fabric of Ras Al Khaimah, given that it is gaining a prominent position from a historical perspective, as well as from a restoration perspective. This living gem is distinguished by the scent of originality and history, and it blends them into an innovative blend that represents a great addition to our unique tourist destinations. ”
• Its old buildings have turned into a center for art festivals, and films for "Brad Pitt" and "Ryan Reynolds" were filmed.