Fashion

Religious reasons and local customs lead local population to wear traditional Arab clothes. Also we must mention that it has also a purely pragmatic reason because Arab clothes are quite comfortable in local hot weather. Men usually wear long white shirts which reach the ankles (dishdasha). Headgear is made by a piece of canvas (gutra), usually white colored. In order to tighten gutra to the head, solid black rope (agal) is used. For festive occasions men wear also a light long coat over the dishdasha.

Women’s traditional dress is called abaja. It is a long black coat which covers the women’s entire body. Head is covered by a big black scarf (shalja) which usually covers also the face, so that only eyes are to see. Mostly older women dress like this. Under abaja women wear whatever they like, so the fashion shops are very popular among women.

Traditional Arab suit can be bought also as a souvenir in the SAE, but persons of non-Muslim religion should not wear it in public. This action is considered as a sign of disrespect.