Have you ever wondered if there’s still a place where people speak a language completely different from their neighbours?
In Oman’s Musandam Governorate, at the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, lies a tiny village called Kumzar where this is exactly the case.
Kumzar is not connected by roads; it is reachable only by boat from the nearby town of Khasab.
For centuries, this isolation on the Strait of Hormuz has helped preserve a unique culture and a language called Kumzari, one that exists nowhere else on the Arabian Peninsula.
WHERE IS KUMZAR LOCATED?
Kumzar is located in northern Oman, nestled between sharp canyon inlets that face the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Its coordinates are about 26°2012N 56°2435E, and it sits roughly 26 km from Khasab, the nearest town.
There are no roads leading to Kumzar. Travelling there takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour by speedboat or 2.5 hours by traditional dhow.
Although recent projects aim to improve housing and access nearby, the village still depends on the sea for entry and exit, helping keep its traditions alive.
WHAT IS KUMZARI, THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN KUMZAR?
Kumzari is a very special language.
It belongs to the Southwestern Iranian group and is spoken by around 4,000–5,000 people. Most speakers live in Kumzar itself, with some in nearby communities like Harat al-Kamazirah, Dibba, and even on Larak Island in Iran.
The language uses 33 Perso-Arabic letters and includes unusual sounds such as velarised consonants and length differences in vowels.
Although its core is Iranian, centuries of sea trade have brought in words from Arabic, English, Hindi and more, making the language unique.
Kumzari is the only Iranian language native to the Arabian Peninsula, which makes it a true linguistic treasure.
WHO LIVES IN KUMZAR, AND WHAT IS THEIR CULTURE LIKE?
Around 3,000 people call Kumzar home.
Most are from the Shihuh tribe and practise Ibadi Islam. Families often have 5–6 children, and many residents move temporarily to Khasab during the hottest summer months.
Many families maintain two homes, one in Kumzar and another in Khasab.
The village has existed for about 500 years. Some people believe its name comes from the Arabic phrase “kam zar”, meaning “how many visited?”, a reference to the many sailors and traders who once stopped here.
IS THE KUMZARI LANGUAGE ENDANGERED?
Yes. UNESCO and linguists list Kumzari as “severely endangered” or vulnerable.
Estimates put speakers at roughly 3,000–5,000, a small base for long-term survival. Modern schooling in Arabic, migration for work, and younger generations’ shifting languages threaten regular daily use.
Without active efforts to teach the language to younger generations, experts warn it could become extinct within decades.
WHY IS KUMZARI IMPORTANT?
Kumzari is a living link to centuries of maritime history, trade and cultural blending.
It shows how languages can develop in isolation and through contact with travellers.
Linguists continue to study its structure and vocabulary, and preservation efforts are underway — but its survival depends on community use and awareness.
Kumzar and Kumzari are a rare language island: a living reminder of centuries of maritime trade and cultural mixing in the Strait of Hormuz. Protecting them is a matter of cultural urgency and human heritage.
