Thread: Costumes from Saudi/Gulf area?

My significant other is so sweet! He's going home this summer (Saudi Arabia*) and offered to buy me a nice belly dance costume. He told me just to show him pictures of what I want and he'd look around, most likely in Bahrain (*cringe*) and Dubai.

I thanked him accordingly and told him I'd make sure to give him plenty of examples. Unfortunately I have no idea what might constitute a belly dance costume in those areas, and I'd hate to have him come back with an "airport special."

Does anyone know if "real" costumes are sold in any of the Gulf countries?

Or, would I be better off asking for a pretty Thobe Nashal?

Thanks for your input!


(*I know the risks associated with dating or more dangerously, marrying, Saudis. He's smart enough not to want to take a career-girl who literally sleeps in a dogpile back to his conservative family, and I'm smart enough to never go somewhere I can't have dogs on my bed, not to mention my career and hobbies of choice. Thanks for caring though! )

It's nice of him - but I doubt he will find anything!

It's been some years since I've been to the UAE, but there was NOTHING and they really don't encourage raqs sharqi - it's not native to the region anyway.

The one person who will be able to answer your question without any doubt is Lydia, she's been living and dancing there like for ever
Lydia Tzigane-Middle Eastern Dancer

But if it's about getting a nice dance costume, Istanbul or Cairo are really the places.

He will find thobes in the souk in Sharjah.

On a general note: I would never ask another person to bring a costume (especially a non-dancer) - it's totally overhelming for an "outsider" to be in a costume shop and having to choose the right one. Plus you really need to try them on. The least you'd have to do is give exact measurements and color requirements. Otherwise you'll end up with a totally useless costume and a total waste of money...

MEISSOUN

I lived in Saudi and travelled extensively through Saudi, Bahrain (it was like my 2nd home), Dubai etc etc...I *never* saw bellydance costumes for sale.

On the other hand, thobe nashal is easily picked up (although I admit I actually bought mine in Cairo).

Thank you both!

I was thinking the same things, that it's not likely he'll find actual belly dance costumes, and a costume is something I really would need to try on. Besides that, it would be awkward for him to transport!

I really do want a thobe though. They aren't that easy to find here and the selections are limited.

Thanks!

if you really really want him to bring back one, you can ask him to go to restaurants with dancers and ask them if they have costumes they want to sell. he can ask the restaurant manager to pass the message to the dancers so he wouldn't look awkward approaching the dancers himself.

i suggest this because before i found out there's no costume shop in bahrain, i asked a dancer at the restaurant where to find shop and she said there were none but she had two she wanted to sell. and then another time i bought a Cristiano costume from a Brazillian dancer.

it's of course ideal to have the chance to try on the costume, but if he wants so badly to bring you a costume... let him show you how much he loves you! if it doesn't work out you can always sell it to us at swapmeet page!

i bought a khalegy dress at the souk. at the time i didn't know what it was, only that it's a 'bahrain style party dress' as informed by the hotel people and the tailor. i didn't find any kaftan coverup and finally i bought the black thing the local women wear (long sleeves long black robe) that closes in the front with colourful embroidery. last time i bought some for my friends and they have glitters! bahrain ladies are getting trendy!

if you have specific requirement for a coverup, you can always send your husband a picture and ask him to go to a tailor. they make really quickly (one or two days max, all the cutting sewing embroidering). problem is they usually don't speak much english. the tailors are indians.

oh i just remember the dress from saudi arabia are much nicer! i saw women on the plane wearing really really exquisite ones and they told me those were from saudi!