Aerial view of Al Madam, United Arab Emirates. There is no definitive explanation of why the village was abandoned, and the mystery is proving a powerful attraction to visitors.
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Broken bookcase inside an abandoned house in Al Madam. The eerie sight of abandoned belongings has fueled stories that the village is haunted by evil spirits.
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Many of the homes appear to have been preserved untouched since their owners left.
Vanessa Ball
The village is a short drive from the city of Dubai, just over the border of Sharjah. Al Madam is so popular with explorers, photographers, and bloggers that tour operators have begun providing trips.
Vanessa Ball
Mosque with courtyard at one end of the village's only street - one of the best-preserved buildings.
Sharjah Art Foundation
Some researchers have suggested that the village was abandoned due to sandstorms that could have rendered it uninhabitable.
Vanessa Ball
Others contend that Al Madam may have been abandoned due to lacking the necessary infrastructure such as water and electricity.
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Local authorities say tourists are welcome to visit, although they have no plans to develop the site to cash in on its popularity.
Vanessa Ball
Al Madam was part of a nationwide public housebuilding program known as Sha'bi housing, according Professor Yasser Elsheshtawy, a specialist on housing in the Arab world. The "compound style" was seen across the UAE - including the village of Bathiya (pictured).
YASSER ELSHESHTAWY
Abandoned villages have become tourist attractions around the world, with Kolmanskop, Namibia - a former mining town - among the most popular examples.
