What is the traditional dress for Qatari men?

The traditional dress for Qatari men is the thobe, a long, loose-fitting robe traditionally worn in white. It is Qatar’s recognized national garment and is worn by men and boys for everyday life, religious occasions, celebrations, and formal events.

The thobe is usually paired with a ghutra, a square headscarf, secured by a black egal cord. For especially formal occasions—such as weddings, religious festivals, or state ceremonies—a man may wear a bisht over the thobe. The bisht is a flowing cloak often decorated with gold trim and is a symbol of prestige and ceremony.

A common mix-up is that dishdasha and kandura can describe very similar Gulf robes. “Dishdasha” is especially associated with Kuwait and Oman, while “kandura” is strongly associated with the United Arab Emirates. These terms may be understood regionally, but thobe is the standard quiz answer for Qatar. Abaya is generally associated with women’s outerwear in Qatar and elsewhere in the Gulf, so it is not the best answer for traditional Qatari men’s dress.