Nahwa, Counter-enclave village in Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Nahwa is a settlement in the Emirate of Sharjah comprising three distinct areas situated at 506 meters elevation within mountain terrain. The layout includes older residential zones, newer housing blocks, and a third distinct area that together form the main population center.
The settlement was established in the 1930s when its inhabitants pledged allegiance to Al Qawasim of Sharjah while surrounding areas chose Omani leadership. This parting of ways created the distinctive territorial division that persists today.
The people of Nahwa maintain community bonds and daily traditions despite living within an unusual border arrangement that isolates them from the wider emirate. Social life centers on the residential and public spaces that serve the local population.
The settlement contains about forty residential buildings, a medical clinic, and a police outpost, all located in close proximity. The high elevation and mountain setting mean visitors should wear suitable footwear and prepare for cooler temperatures.
Nahwa is one of only two known counter-enclaves in the world, existing as Emirati territory completely surrounded by the Omani exclave of Madha. This unusual geographic arrangement places it among a handful of locations with such a complex territorial setup.
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