DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Driving through Al Nahwa, a small village in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, it might be hard to notice anything out of the ordinary.

The local architecture and landscape is similar to the Hajar Mountains, which stretch along the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

You only have to look closely at the map to discover a special feature of the Nahua region that it shares with only one other place on Earth, and you’ll see many circles centered on national borders stacked on top of each other. .

The reason is that Grammar is one of two reverse enclaves in the world, or a defined area within a defined area.

An enclave is a part of the sovereign territory of one state that is completely surrounded by the territory of another state, famous examples include small city/states such as Vatican City and San Marino in Italy.

The entire Nahwa region belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah lies within the Omani state of Mada, whose borders are completely surrounded by the three emirates of Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah.

The Omani Wilayat of Mata lies between the Omani mainland, about 50 kilometers to the south, and the rest of the Musandam Governorate on the shores of the Strait of Hormuz.

Al-Nahwah is considered landlocked within the UAE as it is part of the Ghorbakkan area in Sharjah, which separates it from its main landmasses of Fujairah and Ras Al-Khaimah.

The roots of this complex territorial formation go back to a decision made by the inhabitants of these villages in the first half of the twentieth century, when the rulers of the region began to define the boundaries of the establishment of a modern, independent nation. -In the States. At that time, the residents of Mada State swore allegiance to the Sultan of Oman, while the residents of Nahwa elected the rulers of Qawasim in Sharjah.

Life in form

There are no physical barriers or passport controls when crossing the Omani border at the Wilayat of Mada, the UAE border in the Nahwa region. If you continue west, this applies when you cross the UAE and Oman borders again and enter the UAE mainland.

“We all live here as one family,” said one of Mata’s local residents.

The outline of the borders is undoubtedly the most distinctive feature of this place and is a source of inspiration from all over the world. However, there are plenty of experiences to enjoy in and around Nahwa.

The rocky terrain of this narrow mountain valley makes for an interesting contrast when driving from the more populated coast just a few miles away.

However, the old small village of Nahwa was abandoned in the late 1990s, and most of its approximately 300 residents now live in modern Nahwa, a modern village built a few hundred meters above the main road.

A row of Emirati flags leaves you in no doubt about the supremacy of the Nahwa Antiquities Centre, one of the few roadside installations you’ll encounter.

The recently opened facility aims to provide a glimpse into Nahwa’s heritage in addition to the services offered to visitors. From there, several trails take you to places of historical interest in the surrounding hills, such as the remains of ancient watchtowers and some ancient rock sculptures.