ASPECTS OF DRESS CODE

Dress code in the Arab world varies tremendously from one country to the next, and from one part of the country to another.

For example, you are likely to come across more traditional attire the further you travel away from main cities and international centres. Equally, some countries are more conservative than others, while some tend to be very liberal. The two ends of the spectrum are Saudi Arabia which is ultra conservative and Lebanon which is, by comparison, highly liberal.

However, the dress code tends to be conservative and there is a varying degree of emphasis on modesty. This is particularly true for many of the Arab Gulf states where they have held to their traditional or national customs much more than many other Arab countries. In general, tight fitting, short and revealing garments for women are frowned upon. You will also note that this dress code is primarily for outdoors, while for indoors, anything goes.

Currently, many Arabs wear Western dress, from jeans, t-shirts and shorts to miniskirts and dress suits, and they follow European and American brand names and clothing styles. The trend began with colonialism and European dominance over Arab countries during World War I, and it has continued since, especially among younger generations. At the same time, many Arabs young and old, continue to wear traditional attire, especially at formal gatherings and during celebrations.

Traditional Arab attire includes long, loose robes that cover the whole body. It is called

‘Dishdasha’ for men and ‘Abaya’ for women. Dishdasha and Abaya have slight variations in styling, colors and designs from one country to the next, and even from one village to another. Usually, Arab men wear a light-colored one in summer or in desert environments, such as Gulf countries, Iraq or Egypt; strong breezes circulating through the garment provide a cooling effect in the heat. Men wear a dark colored dishdasha in winter. 

In countries with more rain and vegetation, such as Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, the dress is more colorful. As for Abaya, it has assorted color according to the country. For example, in Tunisia, women wear a white and green one; in Egypt the Abaya is often solid white or blue with embroidery; in Syria and Palestine, it is often black with colorful embroidery, and in Gulf countries the Abaya is black.

Most Westerners will either have come across or know about the Abaaya which is traditionally worn by Arab women over a long dress, and covering the head. Today, the Hijaab is the modern equivalent where loose fitting clothes are worn with a headscarf. Other traditional dresses include the Thobe, which is a long dress worn throughout Arabia. Within the Arab Gulf states, the Thobe is normally decorated with sequins, whereas in the Fertile Crescent, embroidery is more common. 

The dress code for men is also worth mentioning. Under strict Islamic principles, Muslim men are not supposed to wear gold or silk, and they are certainly not expected to indulge in tight fitting or revealing clothes.

For men, and specifically within the Arab Gulf states, you will note that most have also stuck to their national attire: Dishdashas, Thobes or Kandoorehs, which are long and mostly white garments that can vary in design according to the country. For example, in Saudi Arabia the men's Thobe will have collars whilst in Oman it will be collarless. Men in the Gulf will also wear head-dresses and while the dominant colour is white there are other colour variations such as the predominant Saudi red headdress.

This traditional head dress, ghotra, is worn for protection from the sun during hot season and from the cold in winters. The color varies among countries, with men in Gulf countries using a white ghotra and men in Jordan and Palestine using a red and white checkered ghotra.