The thobe, ghutra, eqal, and bisht are considered the traditional dress of Qataris, and a culture that Qatari men inherit from generation to generation, and they are keen to wear them as they are a reflection of their authentic Arab identity.
The thobe has a great place among Qatari men because it symbolizes pride, honor and nobility, so many men are keen to wear it whether in their daily life or on official occasions.
The thobe is characterized by its light material, which is white or shades of white, and many prefer it to be made of soft and medium-soft fabrics, especially in the summer season, and heavy materials such as wool and wool blends in the winter season.
The Qatari thobe is also distinguished from other Gulf thobes by its elegant design, the shape of the thobe’s collar, and its distinctively shaped sleeves and buttons, which are detailed with all craftsmanship and perfection.
As for the ghutra, it is a piece of soft white cotton cloth or cotton mixed with polyester, and is square in shape. It is worn on the head, and Qatari men usually prefer it to be embroidered with attractive traditional designs and fringed at the edges.
As for the shemagh, it is a piece of cotton cloth, square in shape, in red and white. Many people wear it throughout the year, and many men prefer it in the winter season. This is also the case with the Kashmiri shawl ghutra, which gives warmth to the wearer.
As for the aqal, which is one of the components of the traditional Qatari dress, the man wears it to hold the ghutra or shemagh in place on the head. It is made of different materials such as sheep wool and wool, or made of soft threads (crystal) or smooth, shiny silk. The Qatari aqal is distinguished by its Others in the Gulf countries have the karkoushah that hangs from the man’s back in four lines that end in four black blocks. It is solid, unlike others, which are often only circular.
The aqal has a great place in the hearts of Qataris, Gulf Arabs, and Arabs in general, so much so that poets praised it in their poems, including the poet’s saying: “My aqal is the aqal of generosity and generosity… the aqal of chivalry and the marwati, the iqal of the pride of the Arabs and the recognized world… on the head of the Arabs is the crown of dignity. We protect the aqal with our faithful and praiseworthy deeds… on the head of “The glories of dignity and heroism.
As for the Qatari bisht, it is a gold-colored embroidered abaya with no buttons that men wear on ceremonial occasions. It is usually in black, which is the official color and is worn in the evening, or brown or white, which is preferred for morning wear. The wearer keeps one arm in the bisht and the other is free for shaking hands. Heavy camel hair or wool is used to make the bisht in the winter.