In most Arab countries, the headgear consists of a cloth and a headband. The cloth is typically white, though other colors exist; the fabric varies in thickness and quality depending on the season and conditions.
The headband is a ring made of camel hair-usually black, occasionally white-varying in thickness and weight. Young men often prefer thick, heavy headbands adorned with a trailing cord, a style considered dashing and handsome.
In some Arab nations-such as Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Mauritania in North Africa-men wrap a long white cloth around their heads without using a headband. Beyond serving as headwear, the cloth has multiple uses: as bedding while sleeping, a prayer mat, a towel for washing one's face, a bundle for carrying purchases, or a face covering to shield against wind and sand.
Omani men wear the headscarf without a headband; the color signifies social status. While most are white or plain-colored, members of the royal family wear specially made scarves featuring red, blue, and yellow tones-colors forbidden to the general public (much like the bright yellow reserved exclusively for the imperial family in ancient my country).
Many Arabs customarily wear a small white cap beneath their headscarf; in informal settings, they often prefer wearing just the cap without the scarf.
In countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, some men forgo both the headscarf and the small white cap, opting instead for a tall, red or black Turkish-style felt cap (fez). Some choose to wrap a white cloth around the base of the cap for a more striking and novel appearance.
In summary, Arabs wear robes and headscarves due to both tradition and practical necessity. Although modern luxury brands have successfully entered the markets of wealthy Arab nations, traditional attire remains the local favorite.
