Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s traditional costumes are as diverse as its provinces, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of each region. Here’s a outline of the traditional costumes of each province, emphasising their unique characteristics and historical context.
Eastern Province (Ash-Sharqiyah)
Men wear the thobe and often a bisht for formal occasions. Women wear the abayaand niqab, sometimes adorned with gold embroidery.
The Eastern Province’s costumes reflect its affluent history due to oil wealth, with an emphasis on luxurious fabrics and detailed embellishments.
Recent Articles
Explore and discover our collection
The Mansoojat Foundation New Website
The Mansoojat Foundation is proud to announce the launch of our new website: www.mansoojat.org The new platform has been created to celebrate, document, and share the rich textile and costume traditions of Saudi Arabia with audiences around the world. Traditional garments are more than clothing — they carry stories of[...]
Aperture Now Streaming on MBC Shahid
We are delighted to share that Aperture, the new documentary following British heritage photographer and Mansoojat Foundation Trustee Richard Wilding, is now available to watch on MBC Shahid. The film follows Richard as he returns to Saudi Arabia after more than a decade, revisiting the people and places he first[...]
Mick Denton – Governance Support
The Mansoojat Foundation continues to strengthen its organisational development with the support of governance and strategy consultant Mick Denton. Mick brings extensive experience working with charities and social enterprises through periods of growth and transition. His work focuses on helping organisations build clear, effective structures that support long-term sustainability while[...]
The Zay Initiative
Traditional Costumes of Saudi Arabia –A book review The book is not only a showcase for The Mansoojat Foundation Collection but a window onto the culture and society of Saudi Arabia. By showcasing the costumes, we get to understand and learn about the different geographical regions, the different tribes and[...]
Hijaz white burqu
Hijaz, Western Region Hijaz white burqu (face mask) of fine gauze which is heavily starched. It is embroidered along the front and comes with different floral motifs and in varying lengths. The Ka‘bah at Makkah (first established at the time of the prophet Abraham) is for Muslims the “Bait Allah”[...]