Tailoring for Traditional Menswear in the Abu Dhabi Has Never Been Better

 One style no longer fits all; white, crisp dresses such as kandora thobe, or dishdasha now are created with a host of slight variations in cut and style that are special to the ethnicity of the wearer. 

The embroidered patterns common in Oman, the loose stitches and the various colours of the Emirati kandora, every country does have its own distinctive look from the high collars as well as the thobe preferred by people in Saudi Arabia. 

It might seem like men in the Gulf are all wearing the same clothing. Can you determine the distinctions between men’s-favoured clothes in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE? 

From one Gulf country to the next, the kandoras or dishdasha or thobe are distinct and variations are quite strong and apparent. The sort of cut, the material, the features, the accessories, are all distinct and play a big role in the belonging of every country.

The United Arab Emirates 

The United arab Emirates kandora is easily recognisable with the round neckline without the need for a collar as well as a "V" stitch on both the front and back. "Inside of the button pad, they even have a "tassel" attached. Generally, the cloth is polyester and men prefer it to be stiff and durable. It's a loose cut.

Kuwait 

The Kuwaiti kandora is clearly labelled by a deep fold in the centre of the front, just below the button pad, which gives you some flexibility and volume to walk at front. The collar is typically a little shorter than the Saudi attire and is enclosed with a single button.

Omani 

This is close to that of the Emirati. It normally has a little bit of embroidery and a neckline without even a collar although with a "tassel" much like the Emirati, but thinner. 

How did the variations in cut, design, and presentation come about? 

Each area has its own distinctive aesthetics. Currently, however, it is the thobe that becomes more adventurous, particularly in Jeddah, where people are more prone to mixing collars and modifying cuts. The Emiratis are much bolder with the shades of the garments, while the Saudis are much more inventive with the designs and collars.

What is the role of headwear in conventional men's clothing?

 Choosing to wear the ghotra, or shomagh, serves the same purpose in each region, and that's to achieve a professional look. It's the same as a suit and a tie. 

The most famous one in Saudi and Bahrain is a shomagh in white cotton culotte along with red embroidery (sometimes even white embroidery). If there is no embroidery, just plain white cotton, it's considered a ghotra, and it's always worn in the UAE and Kuwait. 

The man first puts a cap on his head named taqiyah to change the shomagh and then repair the entire problem with the eqal, which would be a black warped rope created of wool that helps to hold the cloth on the head. 

There are several ways to cover the fabric until it's attached to the eqal. In Oman, men wear maybe an embroidered cap named the Kuma or a covered wool headdress named the massar wrapped over the Kuma. Each type has a special name such as "cobra," "eagle," even "bint al-bakkar." 

So, if you’re looking for some premium and high-quality traditional wear, you should consider visiting Meemo, a renowned Kandura shop in Dubai.