Al Madam, Sharjah

Al Madam is a residential district in Sharjah located close to the UAE-Oman border. The residential area is home to an abandoned village, locally known as ‘Ghost Town’ and ‘Buried Village’ featuring well-built houses half-covered in the sand. Al Badayer Oasis is another popular leisure spot in the community. Al Madam is developing at a slow pace as the buried village, and Al Badayer Oasis has become a lure for intrepid travellers. Umm Al Quwain Al Shuaib Road (E55) and Dubai-Hatta Road (E44) join at Al Madam roundabout enabling an easy commute to neighbouring areas.

• A small town in Sharjah
• Located close to the UAE-Oman border
• Amenities include supermarkets, restaurants and other shops
• Home to Ghost Village and Al Badayer Oasis
• Major highways of the emirate connect it to the main city

Al Madam is located at the intersection of two major roads of the city, Umm Al Quwain Al Shuaib Road (E55) and Dubai-Hatta Road (E44). This is why the major development of the city is centred on these road links. As for residential options, apartments and villas are available in the area for rent and sale. The residential area has a wide range of amenities and facilities including grocery stores, dining options and retail shops.

Properties in Al Madam include villas and apartments. Apartment buildings in the community offer 2-bedroom units with covered areas of 1,000 sq. ft. These apartments come with a spacious living area, an attached bathroom, a built-in closet, two bedrooms, an equipped kitchen and a balcony. Other features of apartment buildings include 24-hour security and concierge services.

Villas in Al Madam come in different layouts with covered areas of 4,000 sq. ft. These houses have a living room, a majlis, a family hall, a kitchen and a terrace. Residents will also find a private swimming pool, garden and parking area depending on the unit type and covered areas.

Those interested in buying a villa in Al Madam can find several options in the community. The price range of an 11-bedroom villa for sale is AED 10.8M. End-users should keep in mind that the sale price of residential property largely depends on the covered area and amenities offered.

Mysk Al Badayer Retreat, also known as Al Badayer Oasis is a one-of-its-kind resort in Al Madam. The traditional Arabian castle seems like a picturesque desert stop for a caravanserai that is set against the dunes of Sharjah. It has 21 rooms and 10 tents decorated with Arabian ornaments so that stayers can experience Emirati lifestyle at fullest. The hotel also has two restaurants, an indoor pool, health club and business centre. Other leisure facilities include dining at Arabic Majlis, bonfire in the desert dunes, private barbecue dinner and watching your favourite movie under the canopy of stars on the dunes.

Most apartment buildings and villas offer dedicated car parking spaces in Al Madam. Visitors can avail street parking facilities for their vehicles.

There are two bus stations on Al Madam roundabout from where residents can take Bus E16 to move around. Another mode of public transportation in Al Madam is taxi service. Residents can hail online cab services such as Careem or Uber for the commute.

Those with private conveyance can use Dubai-Hatta Road and Umm Al Quwain – Al Shuaib Road to reach the key areas of the city. Both roads intersect at Al Madam roundabout and connect it to the central city and the emirate of Dubai in an hour drive.

There are several local grocery stores and supermarkets in Al Madam for residents to buy daily essentials. These include Al Nadi Supermarket, Al Zahiah Supermarket, Al Shairiji Supermarket and Najmat Al Madam Supermarket. Sharjah Co-Op Society Al Madam is one of the best supermarkets in Sharjah offering fresh quality products in an affordable price range.

Mosques in Al Madam are dotted around the area to facilitate Muslim fellows. These include Al Khitbi Mosque, Ka’b Ibn Murrah Mosque and Shabiyaat Bin Kaab Mosque.

Christian community members will have to drive to Al Yarmook area to worship at some of the best churches in Sharjah. These include Church of Virgin Mary & Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church and St. Martins Anglican Church.

Parents with school-going children will find several educational institutes in and around the community. Khalifah Al Hamza American School (KHAS) is one of them. It is owned by the Sharjah Education Council and managed by Bukhatir Education Advancement & Management (BEAM). It is one of the best BEAM schools in UAE offering education to children from KG1 to Grade 6. Other schools nearby include Al Thameed School for Basic and Secondary Education Girls and Al Sahwa School.

Al Madam Children Centre is a branch of Sharjah Children providing children with an opportunity to practice their hobbies in a variety of fields. The centre offers different activities including arts, IT & Sciences, Literature & Language and sports. It is a facility for children aged 6 to 12. The centre is located near Al Madam roundabout.

Residents can find several healthcare facilities in the area. Al Madam Medical Centre is a premium clinic providing medical treatment for pathological conditions, child health services and home care for the elderly and immunisations. The medical centre operates 24-hours a day to facilitate residents in case of an emergency. Other clinics in the area include Al Faiez Medical Centre and Baghdad Medical Centre.

Although Al Madam is situated a bit far from the central city, the well-connected road network provides an easy commute to key areas of the emirate. Popular residential areas such as Maleha and Al Aweer are located towards the north of the district. One can drive towards the east to reach the residential communities of Fujairah including Sakamkam and Al Bidya. Other areas like Al Tayy and Al Suyoh are situated to the north-western side and accessible in a short drive through Umm Al Quwain – Al Shuaib Road.

Centre Al Badayer is a community shopping mall in Al Madam offering 27 retail units, dining options and entertainment facilities. The shopping mall also has camping equipment, outdoor supplies retailers and sporting goods for those visiting Al Badayer Oasis. Other shopping malls near the community are Zero 6 Mall and City Centre Sharjah.

There is no shortage of restaurants in Al Madam. One can find several local eateries, casual dining restaurants and cafes in the area. Some of the popular ones are Al Madhiq Restaurant, Najmat Al Madam Restaurant, Barzat Al Madam Restaurant and Al Jabriya Restaurant. Al Madam Restaurant in Al Badayer Oasis offers buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner and an a la carte menu as well.

Residents must prepare themselves for a long drive to visit exotic beaches of Sharjah as Al Madam is located far away from the coastline of the emirate. The popular ones include Al Mamzar Beach and Al Khan Beach. Since the coastline of Fujairah is located in proximity to the residential district, residents can also visit Khorfakkan Beach to enjoy a range of water sports activities.

Buried Village, Ghost Town and Old Town of Al Madam are a few names of the abandoned village in Al Madam swallowed by sand. According to historians, residents left their homes decades ago and it has been overtaken by the desert. Due to the absence of definite information, the rumours of supernatural influence is widely circulated among locals. This is the reason why it has been named ‘Ghost Village.’ The village consists of two rows of houses and a mosque built in the 1970s or 1980s under some housing project. It is not a well-established destination but it is gradually becoming a favourite spot for explorers, Instagrammers and travel bloggers. A 4×4 vehicle is required to reach the spot through the Dubai-Hatta road.

Al Badayer Oasis is another popular leisure spot in Al Madam spread over an area of 24,000 sq. m. It is a project by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) nestled in Al Badayer Desert. Guests can opt for rooms or tents to stay while adventure seekers can experience desert safaris, 4×4 trips and desert motocross. Dining at Al Badayer Tower, falcon shows and archery games are other activities visitors can enjoy at Al Badayer Oasis.

Al Madam Public Park is a popular recreational facility in the area promoting a healthy lifestyle among residents. The park has walkways, a play area for children and a shaded seating area. Al Madam Youth Centre and Al Madam Children Centre are other indoor facilities for children and youth in the community. Both centres have state-of-the-art facilities for sports and science and technology.

Those interested in keeping up with their workout session can find several gyms in the area. These include Al Madam Fitness Gym and Taj Al Madam BodyBuilding Gym. Beauty care options in the area are Al Fawaris Saloon, Arous Al Madam Ladies Salon and Ajmal Al Eyoon Ladies Salon.

Al Madam Youth Centre hosts different events throughout the year for youth aged between 13 to 18 years old. These include artist talks, music program, sports competitions and more.

Al Madam is a family-friendly community with all the basic amenities and facilities required for living a peaceful life. Those planning to move should keep in mind that it is a remote area with limited leisure spots.

• Sharjah International Airport is accessible in a 45-minute drive
• An hour away from Dubai and Sharjah
• University City Sharjah is located at a 50-minute drive