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In J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth, Umbar was a great haven to the far south of Gondor.

Umbar had been built by the Númenóreans in the year 3220 of the Second Age, and like the havens of Pelargir and Lond Daer later grew into a fortress from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth.

Umbar was a name given to the area by the original inhabitants, and its meaning was unknown. The Númenóreans adopted the name, probably aware of the fact that Umbar was the Quenya word for 'fate'.

Umbar formed a natural harbour of enclosing rock, and it was here that the last king of Númenor, Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, landed in 3261, marching forth to take Sauron captive near the end of the Second Age:

The fleet came at last to that place that was called Umbar, where was a mighty haven that no hand had wrought. Empty and silent under a sickle moon was the land when the King of the Sea set foot upon the shore. For seven days he journeyed with banner and trumpet. (…) Then he sent forth heralds, and he commanded Sauron to come before him and swear to him fealty. — Akallabêth, The Silmarillion

After the Downfall of Númenor in 3219 of the Second Age Umbar remained as a Númenórean realm, in essence the third Realm in Exile, like Arnor and Gondor. But unlike those more northern realms, Umbar had been mainly used by the King's Men, who were not friendly to the Elves. They became known as the Black Númenóreans, and served Sauron as they had done in the last days of Númenor.

In 3429 S.A. two Umbarian lords, Herumor and Fuinur, fought on Sauron's side in the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Their fate is unknown, but they probably were killed.

From the downfall of Sauron onwards, Umbar remained a realm of the Black Númenóreans, now no longer in the service of Mordor, and they became lords over the Haradrim. Umbar had no kings, but rather was ruled by a duumvirate.

They did not speak Westron, but probably retained their old tongue Adûnaic, speaking a dialect of it. (In The Notion Club Papers, part of Sauron Defeated, Arundel Lowdham cited two descendants of classical Adûnaic. One of these must have been Westron, the other the tongue of Umbar.)

During the early Third Age Umbar was an important enemy of Gondor, and the province of Harondor or South Gondor was contested between the realms.

Their northern neighbour Gondor became more and more powerful during the Third Age, and in 933 T.A. the first Ship-king Eärnil I of Gondor took the city in a surprise attack. The Black Númenóreans fled to their subjects in Near Harad, and in the year 1015:

the Men of the Harad, led by the lords that had been driven from Umbar, came up with great power against that stronghold, and Ciryandil fell in battle in Haradwaith — "Annals of the Kings and Rulers", part of Appendix A to The Return of the King

Umbar was reclaimed in 1030, but Ciryaher of Gondor prevented them from regaining control over the Haradrim, and by 1050 Umbar fell to Gondor.

From 1050 to 1448 Umbar was a Gondorian city, and as the city was captured the Kings of Gondor came there and

on the highest hill of the headland above the Haven they (…) set a great white pillar as a monument. It was crowned with a globe of crystal that took the rays of the Sun and of the Moon and shone like a bright star that could be seen in clear weather even on the coasts of Gondor or far out upon the western sea. — "The Heirs of Elendil", part of The Peoples of Middle-earth.

This pillar was made in memory of the defeat of Sauron by Ar-Pharazôn, and served as a proud reminder of the might of the Dúnedain.

In 1448 the disastrous Kin-strife of Gondor ended, and the sons of Castamir the Usurper fled south with many men and most of the fleet of Gondor. They turned Umbar into a new realm and became known as the Corsairs of Umbar. Some of the Black Númenóreans returned to their old city after four centuries of exile, mingling with the new Númenórean blood of the Gondorian exiles.

From 1448 to 1810 Umbar was ruled by the heirs of Castamir, and in 1540 their Haradrim allies killed King Aldamir of Gondor. Aldamir's son retaliated, but could not claim Umbar.

In 1634 the new duumvirate under his great-grandsons Angamaitë and Sangahyando once again attacked and killed king Minardil at Pelargir, and raided the city. Gondor could not retaliate as it was hit hard by the Great Plague, and it took until 1810 until King Telumehtar destroyed the city, renaming himself Umbardacil. It must have been at this time that the last of the Black Númenóreans were destroyed, as they are (with one exception) never mentioned again.

Umbar was not settled by the Gondorians, but a small taskforce was left there. The Haradrim also left it alone, fighting among themselves and against the Wainriders of Rhûn, who attempted to invade Harad. In 1944 the Haradrim had forged an alliance with the Wainriders and the Variags of Khand, and they took Umbar.

From 1944 onwards Umbar was home to new Corsairs of Umbar, ruled by the Captain of the Haven. It was no longer a Númenórean realm, but a distinct state, still hostile to Gondor. These new Corsairs were cruel slavers, who raides the coasts of Belfalas and Anfalas. In 2746 Amrothos, the 15th Prince of Dol Amroth fell defending Dol-en-Ernil against the Corsairs, and in 2758 the Corsairs once again attacked Gondor and the new realm of Rohan:

Three great fleets, long prepared, came up from Umbar and the Harad, and assailed the coasts of Gondor in great force; and the enemy made many landings, even as far north as the mouth of the Isen. — "Annals of the Kings and Rulers", part of Appendix A to The Return of the King

These Corsairs even sailed up the Isen, supporting Wulf of the Dunlendings in his war against Helm Hammerhand.

In 2885, the Corsairs supported the Haradrim when Harondor was once again claimed by the Harad.

As Sauron arose again in 2951, the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's victory over Sauron was destroyed, and the Corsairs officially allied themselves with Mordor.

Umbar was destroyed once again in 2980, when the great warrior Thorongil (Aragorn Elessar, as it later turned out) in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II led a taskforce south and killed the Captain of the Haven.

During the War of the Ring, the Corsairs had not fully recovered, and could send only 50 great ships north. Still, they sent many smaller ships "beyond count", and raided the coastlands of Gondor. They were defeaten by Aragorn and the Army of the Dead. With the Fall of Barad-dûr, Umbar, weakened and defeated, finally lost its sovereignty and submitted to the crown of King Elessar.