Gulf Wears

  Gulf men’s national dress Gulf men wear a long, single robe called a  dishdasha  or  kandura . In Saudi Arabia, this is also called a  thawb . This tends to be white as this is the coolest colour to wear in the desert heat, but brown, black or grey are seen more in winter months. Men may own more than 50  kanduras  and change them regularly during the day for an ever-fresh look. The Gulf version differs from the garments worn in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as it is collarless and has subtle embroidery on the sleeves. The  kandura  is worn with a  ghutrah  headdress made of cotton. These were traditionally worn to protect the head and face from the desert heat and sand. A  shemagh  is similar to a g hutrah , but decorated with white and red checks and is often made of thicker material. Although this style originated in countries such as Saudi Arabia, today many younger Gulf men prefer the more colourful headdresses. On formal occasions, this is secured with an  agal