A village completely isolated from the rest of the country. There is no road to reach there. One has to cross the lake by boat to get there. Even the language is completely different. This village in Oman on the Arabian Peninsula is called Kumzar.

Where is this village located?

The village is located near the Strait of Hormuz. The nearest town is Khasab, which is about 26 kilometers away. It takes about an hour and a half by speedboat from Khasab to reach this village. There is also a traditional boat called 'dhow'. However, traveling by it takes much longer.

How many people live here?

A total of 3,000 people live in the village. They are all members of the Shihuh tribe. They practice the Ibadi branch of Islam.

Most of the residents here have two houses each. One house is in Kumzar village. The other is located in Khasab. During extreme heat, unable to survive in Kumzar, they go and stay in Khasab.

How did this village get its name?

Locals claim the village is 500 years old. According to them, the village's name comes from the Arabic words 'Kam Zar'. This Arabic phrase means 'How many have come?'

It is believed that once many sailors used to come to this village to rest during their sea voyages. The village's name is thought to have originated from that time.

However, it's not just for its geographical location. This village is famous for its language Kumzari. Nowhere else in the entire Arab subcontinent is this language spoken. Barely five thousand people speak this language. Even elsewhere in Oman, this language is not used.

However, UNESCO and other linguists have declared the language as endangered. Modern Arabic is currently being used for education. As a result, the use of this language is declining. Without proper preservation, this historic language could disappear quickly.