The Shihuh are fishermen and herdsmen and are probably descended from the original inhabitants of northern Oman, pushed into the mountains by successive Muslim and Portuguese invasions. The land in which they live is rocky and arid, with very little vegetation. Their stone houses are called bayt al qufl, which means "cave house", since they are partly underground. Until about the early 1970s, the tribe was isolated from the outside world. They did not trust outsiders, and it was common for visitors at that time to have stones thrown at them by tribesmen. Nowadays, the Shihu are no longer hostile to outsiders, but neither are they particularly friendly.

Much of the region is not hospitable to Christian outreach.

Much sustained prayer is needed to prepare hearts, and to create desire to search for the peace found in Christ.

There are no known Christian believers among this people at this time. Pray for hearts to begin to hunger for the forgiveness of sin found only in trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Pray for sufficient rainfall to provide for livestock, and to grow grain needed for food.