Insert surname here 1
Name
Tutor
Course
Date
Men’s Dressing in Saudi Arabia
One of the hallmarks of a culture is the way in which individuals dress. The manner in which
individuals dress is dictated by the prevalent religion and cultural norms. This essay puts forward the
motion that; the traditional dressing in Saudi Arabia is both a tool of cultural identity and a means of
religious expression. Saudi Arabia is a Muslim nation in the Middle East that is steeped in religion and
whose culture is founded on Islam. This country is home to the largest annual pilgrimage in earth, the
Hajj (Memish 1).
Over time, men have come to dress in light coloured clothing. This has no religious bearing, just
the force of culture and the convenience that lighter coloured clothing offers. This is not a definite rule
as the men also wear darker coloured clothing in the cooler times of the year. Saudi Arabia is a hot
country that is located in a desert. The nomadic culture sees men have to walk long distances in the
scorching sun. Therefore their dressing conforms to this lifestyle.
Being a Muslim country with the Qur’an as its constitution, directives on how men dress are in
place. Men dress in a cloak. It is known as the ‘bisht’. In addition to that the men also dress in an ankle-
long shirt called a ‘thawb’ and a skullcap that they call a ‘kufiyah’. For their heads they also wear a large
square cotton garment called a ‘ghutra’ that is held in place by a cord called the ‘igal’.
Insert surname here 2
The way that men dress in my country is a source of pride. It gives an identity to Saudi men.
When worn by the men it even creates camaraderie among Saudis when they are in the bustling
metropolis. The cosmopolitan capital of Saudi Arabia is a melting pot of very many cultures. Up to
eighty percent of the working class is made up of foreigners (Kanna 207). These individuals bring with
them various modes of dressing that are not necessarily culturally similar or even allowed by Muslim
culture.
It is important that the national dress in Saudi Arabia is maintained and actively promoted. The
rapid ‘modernisation’ of Saudi Arabia due to the proceeds of crude oil inevitably brought about various
cultures to the country. It seems unfair to say that the lack of change in dressing is a rejection of cultures
by the Saudi people. This is because the beauty of humanity lies in its diversity. Therefore, it is important
that this distinctive identity is kept intact. It is a consistent reminder to every person who wears it and
those who see them that indeed, a social contract exists in the Saudi society. This conformity shows the
ways in which a person shows belonging to the greater community.
This essay asserts that the dressing in Saudi Arabia is a tool of cultural expression. How Saudi
men dress can therefore be viewed as their expression of their conformity to religion. This is a symbol of
the Saudi heritage as custodians of Islam’s most important attractions. In conclusion it is thus necessary
that it is both promoted and distinctively recognized.
Insert surname here 3
Works cited
Kanna, A. "Making Cadres of the “City—Corporation”: Cultural and Identity Politics in Neoliberal Dubai."
Review of Middle East Studies 43.02 (2009): 207-18. Web.
Memish, Z. A. "Saudi Arabia Has Several Strategies to Care for Pilgrims on the Hajj." Bmj 343.Dec06 4
(2011): D7731. Web.
