The Jibbali or Shahri people inhabit the mountains of Dhofar and number approximately 50,000. 'Jibbali' is the Arabic descriptor of the people ('of the mountain'), while 'Shahri' has the same meaning ('of the mountain') in their own language. Samples of the Shahri language can be found here. There are approximatley 25,000 speakers of Jibbali/Shahri. Also known as the Al Qara tribes, these peoples are traditionally nomadic herders of cattle and camels, seasonally migrating between the plains and the mountains. Some sources delineate the Al-Shahra tribes as a subset of the Jibbali, and perhaps were the original inhabitants of the mountains before the Al-Qara tribes immigrated from Yemen 500-700 years ago.

The Mahra are found in both Yemen and Oman, and have a long history in the region, including their own Sultanate. There are approximately 95,000 Mahra in Oman. They are nomadic camel herders in the desert north of the Dhofar mountains, and famous throughout the Arab world for their prized camels. Mehri is the most widely spoken of the South Arabian languages. You can find a prayer guide for the Mahra people here.

The Hobyot are a people group straddling the mountainous border of Oman and Yemen. Estimates range on their population, somewhere between a couple hundred and a thousand. Their language is also closely related to Mahri, but distinct. They are pastoral and semi-nomadic. 

The Batahira are a small tribal group of about 200, with less than 20 remaining speakers of Bathari. Their language is also closely related to Mahri. They are found in a rugged coastal area about 300 km northeast of Salalah, and traditionally were fisherman, especially known for catching shark and turtles. They were the lowest of status in the traditional Dhofari tribal structure, with very harsh living conditions. Since 1970, they have rapidly integrated into Omani society and become more 'Arabized'.

God, we pray for the Jibbali/Shahri, Mahra, Hobyot, and Batahira peoples in Dhofar, that they would:

• Come and Worship You. Psalm 86:9 – “All the nations (ethne) you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to Your name.”
• See Your Glory. Isaiah 66:18 – “And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations (ethne) and tongues, and they will come and see my glory.”
• Hear the Gospel clearly in their Heart Language. Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
• Become Disciples and Obedient Followers. Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (ethne), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Be Marked by Worship and Intercession. Mark 11:17 – “And as He taught them, He said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations (ethne)"? …'” (Isaiah 56:7)
• Repent and Be Forgiven. Luke 24:47 – “..and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations (ethne), beginning at Jerusalem.” 
• Be Filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:17a – “‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'”

Adapted from 'All Nations' Verse List

Worship with us!: O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing by Reawaken Hymns. Jesus, may all the tongues of Oman worship You! 

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Thayin, Taqah district, Dhofar region. Population: 63

Arjafut, Taqah district, Dhofar region. Population: 59

Har Arzum, Taqah district, Dhofar region. Population: 51

Habjalt, Taqah district, Dhofar region. Population: 50

Dhahbun, Thumrait district, Dhofar region. Population: 1,087

Rabkut, Thumrait district, Dhofar region. Population: 931

Mudayy, Thumrait district, Dhofar region. Population: 887