Al Karama, United Arab Emirates

Living in a non-existent city isn't exactly possible - Al Karama stands as one of the Gulf's most intriguing "ghost capitals" that never materialized. This failed planned city, meant to house 75,560 residents on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border, represents a crucial compromise in the UAE's early formation that ultimately collapsed under political weight.

The 1971 constitution ambitiously mandated Al Karama's construction within seven years as the UAE's permanent capital - a strategic buffer between Abu Dhabi and Dubai's competing interests. But ongoing disputes between the two powerful emirates meant not a single foundation stone was ever laid. Abu Dhabi, leveraging its oil wealth and existing infrastructure, simply built government institutions on its own territory until reality forced the other emirates to abandon the Al Karama dream. The only remnant today? A mysteriously reserved phone area code (+971 1) for a city that exists only on paper.