From deep in the desert dunes come stories of things that go bump in the night, of abandoned villages and windows where ghostly echoes linger. No matter how familiar we become to the cloud-reaching skyline of the UAE cities, there'll always be the tales of djinn, magic, and specters that follow people around (especially around campfires). Of course, if you look a bit closer, you will find interwoven with these eerie tales, a history steeped in movement, architectural details that draw from trade with various places across the world, and locations that invite visitors to see the 'truth' for themselves.

Happy Halloween. Here are some local hauntings that will give you goosebumps.

Al Qasimi Palace in Ras Al Khaimah

Creaks that break the quiet of the night, chandeliers that invite cobwebs and flicking lightbulbs, and windows famous for shadows and blurred faces – this is Al Qasimi Palace in Ras Al Khaimah, reportedly home to hauntings.…