Enclaves Of The World

The 75 km2 Omani territory of Madha (or Wadi-e-Madhah) is located within the United Arab Emirates, halfway between the Omani fragment on the Musandem Peninsula and the rest of Oman. The enclave is on the Dubai to Hatta road in the Emirate of Sharjah. There are two exits to Madha from the Fujairah to Khorfakkan road.

Boundaries on the Arabian Peninsula have only become more defined in recent times as the concept of statehood developed together with the discover of oil reserves. Though the boundaries of the Madha enclave were settled in 1969, other borders are still considered to be approximate.

Madha is mostly empty desert country with a small developed portion called “New Madha". This has good roads, a school, a post office, a police station, a bank, electricity, water supply and an airstrip. (From Boundary Point: Nov. 2002.)

Within the Madha enclave, there is a counter-enclave called Nahwa that belongs to the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah emirate. It is located about 8 km on a dirt track towards the west from New Madha. It is reported to consist of around forty houses and has its own clinic and telephone exchange. (From Wikipedia)

Map of United Arab Emirates showing the location of the Madha enclave and the Nahwa counter enclave

Location of Madha and Nahwa enclaves

Sketch map showing the Madha enclave and Nahwa counter enclave

Madha and Nahwa detail      (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Photograph showing Madha border     (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Photograph taken in Nahwa counter enclave    (Source: Brian McMorrow)

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