Disclaimer

My apologies to my Qatari readers (more than a few!) for the sensationalist tone of the above caption. Westerners are a curious sort, and I know that many want to see just what is under the abayas. This was taken from a painting on public display, so no one’s virtue is being compromised.

The dresses you see are of a traditional and still common design. More often though you will see dresses with a more modern feel to them. Many are far more ornate than this. In public, a black robe (abaya) is worn over the dress, along with a hijab or shela, two different types of head coverings. Over this, most women wear niqab, or a veil covering the face. The amount of covering that occurs depends upon how public the venue is. Women who are completely covered in the souqs for instance, might uncover their faces at a lecture, or at someone’s home.

Some western women who try to blend in wear an abaya but no head covering. This usually doesn’t work, as it is an odd, non-traditional combination that actually attracts attention rather than deflects it. Those who wear the whole get up get “Qatari privilege”, and can pass unnoticed. Even if it’s discovered that such women are western, the immediate assumption is that they are married to a Qatari, a terrifying prospect to any would-be Indian Romeo.

Western women needn’t wear such things of course, even the Arab ex-pats from Syria, Egypt and elsewhere rarely wear a niqab or abaya, although they do usually wear hijab (hair covering). Qataris on the other hand wear them almost universally. It’s a small town in many ways, and their reputation is at stake.