THOBE, the traditional menswear almost synonymous with Saudi culture, is finding a global audience. Non-Saudis living in the Kingdom are fast embracing the simple white garment, which they say is their bid to show respect to the country where they are earning a living and to blend in with Saudi society. For some others, wearing a thobe is merely a workplace requirement. “Wearing a thobe reflects how much we love this country and its people,” said Sayed Khalil, a 56-year-old Pakistani private sector employee in Jeddah. Khalil, who had been working in the Kingdom for 32 years, fondly remembers the day when he first put on the Saudi garb. “My father's friend suggested that I wear a thobe, which he said would be a comfortable, easy to wear, and inexpensive substitute for other clothing. That was in 1976 when I first arrived here. That's also when I decided that this is what I would wear henceforth,” he said. He said his wife encouraged him to wear a thobe. “It was her desire to see me in a thobe; that, in fact, increased my courage to it,” said Khalil, adding that he is now accustomed to the Saudi dress and owns around 25 thobes. “Often there are Saudis who disapprove of me when I wear their traditional dress as it's clear from my accent that I am a non-Saudi. With a smile, I tell them that it is because I love their country. They are usually satisfied when they hear this,” he said. But there may not always be a clear distinction between locals and expatriates when both are dressed in a thobe. When this Saudi Gazette reporter came across Abdorabou Al-Badri, who was wearing a thobe, he did not think Al-Badri was anything but a Saudi. Upon closer inspection, however, the reporter noticed Al-Badri's unusual style of wearing the ikal (a black cordon made of wool, worn on the head cover – shimagh). It was different from that of a Saudi who totally covers his white takiyah (white head cap), which is rarely seen in the front from under the shimagh. Al-Badri, an Egyptian driver, who came to the Kingdom in 1984, said that wearing any country's traditional costume is a symbol of respect for that country and its traditions. Al-Badri once worked for a Riyadh-based royal family as a driver. “As a driver, I was required to wear the Saudi dress. I saw many expatriates wearing a thobe and so I started dressing similarly,” he said. When he moved to Jeddah, Al-Badri continued his profession, but this time he worked for a businessman's family. “Many families are keen to have Saudi-dressed drivers for various reasons. Some youngsters annoy their parents in a number of ways. But when they see me in a Saudi thobe, they refrain from their childish behavior,” he said. Al-Badri said he is concerned about his friends who try to deter him from wearing a thobe. “Some of my compatriots want to see me in Egypt's traditional costume, but I tell them it is a matter of choice,” he said. When asked why he preferred the thobe over all other garments, Al-Badri said: “The thobe is practical. I have around 10 thobes tailored to fit me perfectly. I feel more comfortable in them, and they are reasonably priced when compared to other clothes,” he said. “But when I have to go to any government office, for instance, to renew my driving license, I dress in pants and a shirt,” said Al-Badri. He said wearing clothes that may be unrepresentative of his culture and country may be questionable at such a place. Salem Al-Barakati, a Yemeni tailor specializing in thobes, said that unlike Saudis, expatriates are not very particular about design details and fabrics. “Most expats aren't aware of the latest fashion in thobes. They look for cheaper fabrics and prefer simple white varieties. They are more concerned about comfort,” he said. Generally, thobes cost SR70-80 and can go up to SR110. This includes the cost of the fabric, stitching and designing. As expats choose to wear thobes, Saudis are not complaining. They say they are glad to see foreigners in Saudi Arabia's national dress. “It's a good trend among non-Saudis despite the funny way in which they wear their head cover,” said Ali Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi school student. “I feel proud to see our foreign brothers and friends dressed in our attire,” he added. Unlike Al-Ghamdi, Faisal Al-Harthi, a Saudi, said the trend is disturbing. “Some people tend to wear Saudi thobes to hide their identity from the passport patrols. They may have an expired residence permit and think that they cannot be recognized,” he said. “You can find many such violators in Al-Balad district, all of whom are dressed in thobes. But despite this deception, they end up in deportation centers,” Al-Harthi said, adding that he respects and appreciates legal resident expatriates who wear the Saudi thobe. Nigerian Salam Latif (name changed) is an illegal resident in the Kingdom who wears a thobe. He came to the Kingdom for Umrah, and stayed on illegally. “I'm a Muslim; I pray in the mosque and ask Allah for help. I have six children who need money,” Latif said, He said he has lived in the Kingdom for nearly 16 months and that he would go back home after the next Haj season. “My one-month Umrah permit has ended and the validity of my passport has expired. It is true that I put on the thobe to hide my identity,” Latif said.
