Traditional Dress of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, as one of the Gulf country, has a very traditional atmosphere that manifests itself in the traditional style of conservative clothing. Men and women must adhere strictly to the moderate Islamic dress guidelines, and most wear the following:

Dress for Women:

Abaya: The abaya is the traditional outer cloak of a woman's clothing. It consists of a long black dress that leaves only the wrists exposed, as well as a head piece which often covers everything but the eyes. The abaya is always black, and is either silk or synthetic material. Under the abaya, women will wear either a traditional bright colored dress embellished with coins or other designs, or western dress. Modern, western style dress has become increasingly popular, however an abaya is always worn on top.

Jewelry: Jewelry is often worn by women to express their economic status. Jewelry is traditionally presented to women by their husbands on days of special occasions, such as the wedding day or on the day a child is born. The jewels can bring individuality to a woman, and show off her wealth and the wealth of her husband.

Dress for Men:

Thawb/Thobe: This refers to the typical long sleeved dress. As the centerpiece of all traditional dress, it is worn by all locals, and is usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric. They are worn in white during spring and summer, and are black or blue in winter. The thawb in Saudi Arabia differs from neighboring countries in that it will typically have buttons on the collar and sleeves that are as tight as a regular shirt, with holes for cufflinks.

Bisht: This is the coat worn over the thawb, and is a very popular fine garment. It is usually only worn during special occasions, such as weddings and religious holidays, but a bisht of heavy camel wool is often worn during the winter months. The coat may be beige, black, brown, gray, or cream, and is decorated with gold embroidery.

Ghutra and Igal: The ghutra is the main portion of a Saudi man's headdress. It is the red and white keffiyeh square of fine cotton cloth that is folded and wrapped around the head, traditionally to protect one's head from sun exposure and sand during dust storms. The ghutra is held in place by the igal, which is an accessory of double black hoops. Its yarns are typically synthetic or goat wool.