Traditional woman dress of Hudhayl tribe, Saudi Arabia, and elements of attire.
The first thing you notice when looking at the traditional tribeswoman outfit of the Hudhayl tribe is the beautiful dotted pattern on vibrant indigo mantle. Then you start getting curious about the construction of the headgear and its silver beading. Finally, vivid contrasting embroidery on the sirwaal, or pants, attracts your attention.
The traditional bedouin woman dress of the Hudhayl (Hudheyl, Hodheyl) tribe of Saudi Arabia
At the dawn of Islam, the Hudhayl were a tribe of Northern Arab descent living near Makkah. The Hudhayl tribe occupied steep mountainous area where lied the shortest (although the hardest) route from Makkah to Taif. The mountains collectively bear the name of Djebel Kora. The road was hardly passable by camel caravans, and often mules were used to transport the load through the rocks to Taif.
Outdoor traditional dress of a woman from Hijaz, Saudi Arabia
A rock barrier formed by great escarpment rises from the north of Saudi Arabia, embraces the cities of Makkah, Taif and Medina, running parallel to the Red Sea coast to the south of the Kingdom as far as Yemen, and forms a natural corridor. It gives the name to the area of Western Arabia called Hijaz, which means “barrier”.
Traditional woman dress of Harb tribe, Saudi Arabia, continued
The traditional dress and accessories of a Harb’s tribeswoman has so many intricate features that each time I look at the photos I find new details. There is a rich variety of stitches in the embroidery, lots of contrasting applique patches in vibrant colors, and the dress cut is quite peculiar with its long sleeves and plant-dyed gussets.
Traditional woman dress of Harb tribe, Saudi Arabia
The Harb tribe was considered one of the largest tribes of the whole Najd and Hijaz areas. The Harb tribe was territorially divided into two regions: the Harb of Najd and the Harb of Al-Hijaz tribes and they were related to each other. Like many other Arabian tribes, Harb is rather a federation of smaller tribes and families.
Traditional urban men’s dress of Saudi Arabia – continued
On the occasions that require formal attire, like official gatherings or weddings, Saudi men wear a full-length mantle named bisht. While in the old times this garment was worn to protect the owner from weather conditions, nowadays it serves as an elegant and distinguished symbol of status.
Traditional urban men’s dress of Saudi Arabia
While some Saudi men have adopted “western” trends in fashion, the majority of the male urban population wears the traditionally designed garments, retaining the stunning feature of their rich Arabian heritage and national identity.
The Uniform of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SANG).
The Saudi National Guard is one of the best-equipped and most capable armed forces in the Middle East. Their headquarters are located in the city of Riyadh. Also known as the White Army, it is one of the three major branches of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ardha – The National Sword Dance of Saudi Arabia
Warrior dances are a nostalgic reminder of former heroic battles. A remembrance of the Kingdom’s ancient heritage, Saudi Arabian traditional men’s sword dance Al-Ardha brings to life timeless chanting of bedouin poets, expressing victory and pride of Saudi history.