Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The philosophy is simple: you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours - only in the desert it's a matter of survival.
Such a code of conduct ensures the survival of all in a difficult environment with scant resources. It allows the
maintenance of a nomadic lifestyle and the continuation of trade. It's a kind of survival, in other words, of the
most generous.
Dress & Fashion
The very thought of calling the quintessentially cool and elegant dress of the Arabs 'sheet
and teacloth' would appall most inhabitants of the Peninsula. Men take huge pride in their
costume, which, in its simplicity and uniformity, is intended to transcend wealth and ori-
gin.
A loose headscarf, known as
gutra,
is worn by many Peninsula males: in the Gulf
States it is of white cloth, while in western Kuwait and Saudi Arabia it is checked. The
black head rope used to secure the
gutra
is called
agal
. It's said to originate in the rope
the Bedu used to tie up their camels at night. The Omanis and Yemenis usually wear a
turban, wrapped deftly about a cap. In Oman these are pastel-hued and decorated with in-
tricate and brightly coloured embroidery.
Why the Low Crime Rate?
Strict codes of moral conduct expounded by Islam
A legal system rigorously enforced
Traditional Arab values
Ancient concepts of honour
Most Peninsula men also wear the floor-length 'shirt-dress', which in Saudi Arabia,
Bahrain and Qatar is known as a
thobe,
and in Kuwait, the UAE and Oman as a
dish-
dasha.
Most are white, and some have collars and cuffs, while others are edged with tas-
sels and white-thread embroidery at the neck. On ceremonial occasions, the dress is com-
pleted with a finely wrought belt and ceremonial dagger, and a silk outer garment. In Ye-
men and cold areas in the winter, men wear tailored jackets.
Women's dress is more varied. It often comprises a colourful long dress or an em-
broidered tunic with trousers and heavily decorated ankle cuffs. In the cities, modern dress
is common. Over the top, women usually wear a black gown known as an
abeyya
. This
can either be worn loose and cover the head as well (as in Saudi Arabia) or it can be worn
as a fashion item, tailored to the body and spangled with diamantes (as in Oman). In Ye-
men, the women's outer costume comprises a startling layer of coloured cotton cloth.
