Al Suwai'iyah Abaya - Ministry of Culture

Element Name

Al Suwai’iyah Abaya

Other Names

Abaya

Practice Environment

Coast, Desert, Rural

Practice Location

All Emirates of the UAE

Scope of Practice

Women

Heritage Domain/ Category

Customs, Traditions and Social Etiquette

Element Type/ Subcategory

Traditional Clothing

Current Status

Living heritage

Al Suwai’iyah Abaya

Al Suwai'iyah is a long, loose-fitting Emirati abaya made of black silk and traditionally embroidered with gold or silver threads. It is worn to cover the entire body and head and is open at the front. In the past, it was imported from Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and is regarded as a symbol of elegance and modesty.

Criteria Applicable to Nominate Element

01

Preserving the Element within the Living Community Context: The element derives its value from being actively practiced in people’s daily lives or within their rituals and social occasions. Preserving the element does not mean freezing it in time, but rather supporting it to continue in its original environment, while respecting its natural evolution within the community context.