The traditional costume of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi traditional dress is our discovery of the day. Although one might think that clothes in the Arab world are all alike, there still are details that distinguish them from each other. Custom Qamis scrutinizes the Saudi male dress code, from the Qamis to the Shemagh, without forgetting the Bisht.

 
The Saudi Qamis
 
The Saudi Qamis, also called Thawb or Thobe, refers to that white long sleeved dress. It truly represents the centerpiece of the Saudi traditional dress and is therefore worn by all the locals. Made of cotton and synthetic fabric, Thawbs are generally white during summer and spring. In winter, they are to be found in darker black and blue shades. Since Saudi Arabia is a region with an arid climate, the Qamis constitutes the ideal clothing as it offers as much comfort as freshness to the one wearing it. The Saudi Thawb differs from the Qamis of neighboring countries in some fine details. The collar of the Saudi Qamis contains two buttons while its sleeves are as tight as those of a regular shirt. These sleeves are devoid of buttons but have holes for cufflinks.
 
The Saudi Coat
 
The Saudi coat known as the “Bisht” is a fine garment that is worn over the Qamis. It is a very popular garment both in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Arab countries. Fashionable and classy, the Bisht is only worn during special occasions like weddings or religious holidays. It is also the garb the imam wears on Friday sermons. The Saudi coat may be beige, black, brown, gray or cream. It is decorated with golden embroidery and closes by means of two strings with golden tassels. In winter, people wear a Bisht made of camel-hair wool to endure the low season temperatures.
 

Source: www.majilet.com

The Saudi Headdress
 
The Saudi headgear is intrinsic to men. Saudis all wear something on their head. Moreover, due to a blazing sun and many sandstorms, it has become an indispensable accessory.
 
The Shemagh
 
The Shemagh is a scarf with a red and white checkered pattern. The price of this woven cotton fabric varies depending on the quality of the yarn it is made of. The more the scarf will be processed, the more expensive it will be. There even are woolen models available for cold days. This traditional garment of the Saudis may also be worn on the head, or on a Taqiyah for more steadiness. The Shemagh is maintained by an Iqal: an Arab clothing accessory. It serves to protect from the sun or sandstorms and may be worn in different ways: loose, on the sides, towards the rear, or even tied in a knot.
 
The Taqiyah
 
The Taqiyah or Sheshiya is a white embroidered cap. It allows one to fasten the Ghutra or Shemagh so that the headscarf doesn’t slide.
 
The Iqal
 
Made of synthetic yarns or goat wool, the Iqal, Agal or Igal is a clothing accessory in the form of dual hoops. It keeps the Ghutra or Keffiyeh in place. Some of its models have a Tarbusha (a small cord with a suspended tassel at the rear).
Agal (arab hoop)
 
The Sandals
 
Sandals, which are called “N3ala”, are an extra accessory of the Saudi traditional dress. Due to the sunny weather, it is hard not to notice them since they are worn by all citizens in the Saudi Kingdom. Made out of leather or plastic, its price varies depending on the material to be used.
The geographical location, climate and religious code are all criteria that determine the dress code of a country. The Saudi, Emirati and Qatari Qamis reflect modesty in cut clothing, comfort and freshness in a garment and the elegance of white. Although they seem identical at first, their collars or sleeves subtly remind us of their country of origin.

Comments (16)

Posted by Khalo on 2016-08-06 02:40:50
Excellent article
Posted by Mike on 2017-05-28 00:42:13
Bonjour, j'aimerais savoir une chose. Ou peut-on acheter des vêtements typiques saoudiens de couleurs (Qamis, coiffe,...) ?En vous remerciant d'avance.Et merci pour ce beau post ou on apprend beaucoup de chose !
Posted by on 2017-05-28 01:06:10
Alors je me suis mal exprimé ou peu clairement, je cherche essentiellement des couleurs chaudes pour le Qamis et la chechiya (orange, sable, rouge vif,...) ? J'ai regardé sur votre site, mais je n'ai pas trouvé de couleurs chaudes et vives hélas.
Posted by Jack on 2018-01-16 09:11:54
nice
Posted by Jeff on 2018-06-11 12:51:06
Nice
Posted by Rafael on 2018-10-20 13:20:35
Great information
Posted by Poopy the Dog on 2018-11-09 12:43:39
Thank you for the information.
Posted by panga on 2019-02-22 19:56:31
Thankyou sooooo much for this!!!! It helped me a lot for my essay about Traditional wear of Saudi Men!
Posted by Zam zam book depot india on 2019-04-20 22:25:26
100 shemagh and 200 iqal pleees wholsel price and contect no sand me
Posted by Jamal Abdullah on 2019-04-24 12:33:50
I like Arabic costmes
Posted by on 2019-05-07 16:30:54
whats saudi arabia
Posted by none of your buissens on 2019-05-24 01:55:54
thank u for the help with my project on Saudi Arabia
Posted by BARRY on 2019-07-15 11:44:37
Pouvez-vous nous indiquer l'histoire du qamis?
Posted by yo.. on 2019-08-07 13:04:41
so good for information
Posted by Angie on 2020-12-05 15:45:37
Jazak Allahou khayran pour ces informations, très bel article.
Posted by Ali Abdul on 2021-10-07 03:44:23
Thanks!

New comment