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The Musandam Cultural Preservation Society is platform which works to promote the interests of the people of Musandam and preserve their heritage.
Our focus is to promote better understanding of the history of the region, its customs and traditions through a series of public events, political engagement and the promotion of a “Friendship” programme to increase awareness of the contemporary challenges within the region.
The culture of the Shihuh tribe residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, particularly in the Musandam Peninsula is deeply rooted in their history, environment, and social practices, reflecting a blend of traditional customs with adaptations to modern influences.
The Shihuh tribe are known for their unique customs, lifestyle, and dialect. The tribe is divided into two main sections: Bani Hadiyah and Bani Shatair, each with several subsections. The Shihuh people historically lived a semi-nomadic life, with winter houses in the mountains and summer huts by the coast. They have a distinctive Arabic dialect, that is sometimes unintelligible to other Arabs. The Shihuh are known for their agricultural practices, including terraced fields and water collection systems in the mountains. Despite modernization, the Shihuh maintain their cultural heritage and tradition.
The culture of the Shihuh tribe is rich and distinctive, characterised by unique customs, traditions, and lifestyle practices. The Shihuh people migrated seasonally for work from the mountains to the coast during the date and pearl fishing season. They maintained large herds of goats and valued arable land due to their hand-to-mouth existence in the mountains. Shihuh men wear coloured headgear as well as the white ghotra and eqaal, as worn by Gulf Arabs, and carry a small dagger, called bayshek, on their waist. Women wear distinct masks with a thin strip of cloth over the nose, called a burqua.
The Shihuh have unique musical traditions like Nadbah, Rawāḥ, Razīf al-Shihuh, and M Hobi. These musical forms are deeply rooted in their culture and serve various social functions to express pride, praise, or unity during different occasions. Yelling (alnadba) is a form of traditional communication among the Shihuh, used as a call for unity during times of sadness, war, or celebrations. This yelling chant has been passed down through generations as a means to gather tribes together. The Shihuh use a unique long-handled axe called jerz, which serves both as a weapon and a climbing/walking stick. This axe is symbolic in their culture.
“Friendship” of Musandam is available to those whose ancestry is from the indigenous tribes in Musandam or those who have a strong positive interest in the region.
By becoming a friend you will have access to our London and overseas lecture programme, webinars and educational events. All ‘friends’ receive a copy of our newsletters and all publications.
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Starting with Alexander the Great, culminating in Operation Intradon.
Musandam was visited by Alexander the Great’s fleet as it sailed the Gulf. During his visit, Alexander writes about Khasab, calling it ‘Kasebo’.
Due to the collapse of the Great Marib Dam of Yemen, the Shihuh Tribe move further up the Arabian Peninsula to Musandam.
Around this time, Dibba Al-Baya becomes a popular souq (market).
King Luckayet Bin Malek is crowned there.
The British open a Telegraph line on Maqlab Island - also known as Telegraph Island. This was short-lived due to inhospitable conditions three years later
In Operation Intradon, the UK hands Musandam over to be supervised by Oman, becoming one of its Governates.
Overlooking the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most dynamic waterways –Musandam’s coastline provides the only sea passage from the Arabian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It is estimated that 90% of the oil exported from the Gulf, about 20% of the world’s supply, passes here.
Musandam is a mountainous region bordered by majestic waters on three sides, just north of the United Arab Emirates. It is 100km from the Sultanate of Oman by road and 80km from Iran by sea.
Going ’round the bend’
The phrase is said to have been coined in the 1860s when the British manned Maqlab Island where they had established a Telegraph line. Not only did they need to navigate the bending waters of the peninsula, they also had extreme temperatures to contend with. The outpost was finally abandoned in the mid-1870s and the buildings collapsed.
With its jagged mountains, hidden towns and historic fishing villages, Musandam is growing popular with travellers who seek destinations where nature remains largely untouched.
The region’s pristine waters attract keen divers and visitors are also intrigued by the history and ancient people.
Thanks to its tall mountains and striking fjords, Musandam has been dubbed the Norway of Arabia.
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