Oman

KUMZAR

Kumzar (كُمْزَار in Arabic) is a remote village located in the Musandam province, governorate of the Sultanate of Oman.
It lays in one of the most strategic trade arteries of the world, the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Iran, through which the majority of the world's oil exports are transported; however, it is very isolated and can only be accessed by boat.

The village is the second most populated town in the north of the country, and the northernmost among the inland population centers.

Kumzar has been inhabited for about 500 years, although it is not clear since when exactly. Already the first maps drawn by the Portuguese marked a settlement in the area where the city is today.

For centuries, Kumzaris have had front row seats to history. They have witnessed and even assisted invading armies of the world's great empires that have sought control of the Straight crucial to global marine trade.

The easiest way to get to Kumzar has always been from the mainland by boat.
Today it's possible to reach the isolated village with a speed boat or typical Dhow from Khasab.

Khasab is a small town exclave of Oman bordering the United Arab Emirates. It is the local capital of the Musandam Governorate, and has frequently been called the "Norway of Arabia" because of its extensive fjord-like craggy inlets and desolate mountains capes.
This town is considered a touristic destination for locals and it provides a port and an airport.

HOW
TRAVEL

Musandam Sea Adventure Travel & Tourism | Musandam
Khasab to Kumzar: 1 hour with speed boat and 2.30 hrs by Dhow

Kumzar Musandam Oman Map

The geographic area of ​​Musandam, where Kumzar is located, characterized by huge rock formations, constitutes within it a protected area of ​​fjords and inlets, and outside a very rugged coastline, very exposed to the winds and the open sea, where hardly any vegetation lives; but the sea is teeming with life. Flocks of seabirds hunt for fish among schools of leaping tuna.

Despite Kumzar being on the coastline, facing the open sea, it finds space between the inlets of a canyon, nestled in a fairly protected bay.

Kumzar Village Oman Drone
Kumzar Village Oman Drone

The Kumzar village counts about 3000 inhabitants, mainly are families, and most of them are composed of several children; as we were told about an average of 5-6 children per family.

Across Oman, the depopulation of rural communities is common, but local reports say that high birth rates in Kumzar led the village to grow in population by around 300 people a year.

People live in total harmony with their cohabitants, the mountain goats, that you can find walking around and climbing the rocks.

Kumzar Drone shot Oman

Most of the population, however, is semi-nomadic.
In the fall, winter and spring they fish and live in Kumzar. In the summer, due to the rising temperatures on the gulf reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius, most of the population abandons Kumzar to settle in the nearby port town Khasab where they harvest dates, and where they own their second houses.

The liveliest place in town is the school. Girls and boys in white uniforms sit in the comfort of an air-conditioned trailer, studying different subjects.
But after school you can find them swimming in the sea and playing all together on the seashore.

There isn't much to do in Kumzar at night. There are just two restaurants, three shops and two mosques.

Kumzar Village Oman Drone
Kumzar Village Oman Drone
Kumzar Village Oman Drone

Kumzari houses are built extremely close together. In fact, the only gap among the crowded houses is a narrow drainage channel for the village.

Kumzar Village Oman Drone

Houses are made from stone and have tiny courtyards and flat stone roofs. The entire village is surrounded by tall mountains on all sides except one. This open side gives the people access to water and is where most of the daily activities occur. There is no room inside the village interior for such activities, since it is completely compacted with homes.

Kumzar Village Oman Musandam

The main diet of the Kumzari consists of goat milk, cheese, goat meat, mutton, and fish. Figs, coffee, and canned foods are also consumed on a regular basis. At mealtime, mats are placed on the ground, and the food is placed on them. Men and women sit in separate circles with other family members, sharing food from a tray on the mat.

LANGUAGE

Kumzaris speak Kumzari (Arabic: لغة كمزارية, Luri: کومزاری), a Southwestern Iranian language that is similar to the Larestani and Luri languages. Although vulnerable, it survives today with between 4,000 and 5,000 speakers.

This is the only non-Semitic language spoken exclusively in the Arabian Peninsula.
Kumzar's geographic isolation may have helped the local language survive in a country where the majority of the population speaks Arabic.

Kumzari is a mix of Arabic, Persian and Hindi, with some borrowed English and Portuguese, adopted from the European sailors who have traveled for centuries through the Strait of Hormuz and stopped in the village for some water and rest.

UNESCO has categorised the language as “seriously endangered” with linguists saying it could die out in the next 50 years.

Despite the rumors concerning the possible extinction of the Kumzari language the locals put a great deal of importance on the preservation of the language; though our conversations with them is understood that the language is passed down to the new generations which, as already mentioned, constitute a large part of the demographic growth of the village.

Kumzar Kumzari people

Furthermore another rumor, that the Kumzari language does not find its written form, has been dispelled. As we have been told, the language is written by people, but most probably there is no official documented linguistic structure, such as a vocabulary or a documented grammatical construction.

Kumzar Village Oman Musandam

ECONOMY

Appearances can be deceiving, and though one might not think it from first glance, the Kumzari actually enjoy a high quality of life.

The Kumzari are primarily fishermen.
Fishing is the main source of income, and tuna and sardines are the most commonly caught fish.
Men also build the houses and conduct the agricultural activities, collect honey, and shear, slaughter, and skin the animals.

The women process agricultural products, feed and milk the animals, make butter and cheese, and engage in all the domestic duties, such as carrying water, cooking, and sewing. Others work as sailors, boat builders, merchants, or craftsmen.

A few men have also gone to work in the oil fields of Oman or the United Arab Emirates. They are diverse in their careers and some work as doctors, nurses, business men and women, poets, writers, engineers and teachers.

At first inspection, Kumzar seems entirely cut off from civilisation, but looking more closely you can see signs of the modernisation of the area, which happened in the past 10 years or so, thanks to the help of the Omani Government. Besides electricity, it brought running water, a school and a hospital, satellite television and Internet access to the village.

There is also a helipad where passengers wait for the helicopter. Twice a week it takes residents back and forth from the provincial capital.

Kumzar People Oman
Kumzar People Oman

RELIGION

The village religious practice is based on Islam, but with the traditional folklore of the region, which makes it a culture that distinguishes it from other Arab settlements in the area.

The Kumzari are entirely Muslim, following the teachings of the Koran. Like many other Muslim peoples around the world, and as many other religions, they have their own type of folk Islam, which combines Islam with their pre-Islamic practices. They believe in evil spirits, which are warded off by cowrie shells tied to the bows of their boats. They believe in a she-devil who casts shadows and walks around in rags, carrying a basket.
They also believe in monstrous creatures of various kinds.

Kumzar Drone Shot Oman
Kumzar Village Oman Musandam
Kumzar Village Oman Musandam

Photo credits: Giulio Aprin – Daniele Gatti
Drone pilot: Lorenzo Tassi

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10 Comments

  1. Manish
    June 22, 2020 / 3:09 am

    Has anyone done the near-impossible of crossing the wadis of Musandam Peninsula to reach Kumzar by land?

    • Giulio
      Author
      June 23, 2020 / 2:50 pm

      Hey Manish! How are you? Not Yet that I know, but I’m planning it very soon. if you are interested drop me an email to info@wildmanlife.com

      • Chloé
        January 6, 2022 / 9:19 pm

        Hello ! Thanks for this article. I also might be interested in reaching Kumzar by foot. It doesn’t seem to be impossible ; maybe a two day’s hike ? Did you finally do it ?

        • Giulio
          Author
          January 7, 2022 / 5:10 pm

          Hey Chloé thank you for your kind words. please reach out to my Instagram dms so we can talk about it easily.

  2. Gary
    November 21, 2022 / 8:16 pm

    Fascinating, an adventure for sure!

  3. Magda IG @rak_wand3r3r
    March 17, 2023 / 10:50 am

    I was wondering if you know the origins of the mosque on top of the hill on the left when entering the village.
    What`s also interesting about the place is that they buried the deceased outside the houses. So, many visitors, don`t know that the odd looking, flat stones around the houses are actual tombstones. Only, the newer graves look like the ones we could recognise as burial places.
    It`s a fascinating place full of welcoming and friendly locals.

    • Giulio
      Author
      September 2, 2023 / 1:23 pm

      Unfortunatelly I do not know the origins of the mosque. I am willing to go back to Kumzar sooner than later, maybe I will find out. It is definitely a very fascinating place frozen in time in a way. the world if truly full of gems!

  4. Alan
    May 5, 2024 / 5:49 am

    I visited Kumzar more than 45 years ago, the town is different now. If my memory serves me correctly it was here that I saw a dhow being built using handtools and ropes being made from palm fronds.

    • Giulio
      Author
      May 12, 2024 / 6:25 pm

      wow! amazing testimony. Please share more of your experience if you can. Did you take photos 45 years ago?

  5. SAHAR KHAN
    October 23, 2024 / 6:24 am

    Khasab is truly a hidden gem! The fjords are breathtaking—it’s like stepping into a different world. The dolphin watching was a highlight for me; seeing them play alongside the boat was magical. I also loved the peaceful vibe of the dhow cruise, especially at sunset. If you’re into snorkeling, the marine life here is vibrant and colorful. Overall, Khasab offers a perfect mix of adventure and tranquility—highly recommended
    https://gulfmusandamtours.com/d for nature lovers and anyone looking for a unique travel experience in Oman

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