Our World - Incognito

While many women in Saudi Arabia have dispensed with their veils and some are even letting their hair down, others are still clinging to what they are used to and are comfortable with - being fully covered in public places.  These women were also wearing black gloves the entire time in this restaurant, considered by some to be rather extreme.  They all ate with the veils on, which can't be easy to do. I've seen other veiled women in restaurants who remove the veils when they eat and then put them back on when they are finished.  As far as I understand, there is nothing in Islam that requires women to cover their faces or their hands specifically.  There are, of course, many differences in interpretations as to how modest women should appear when in public.

These women are waiting patiently for a table in a popular restaurant on a weekend. Eating out has become very trendy here, like in many places around the globe. 

Even though they are veiled, their personalities and friendliness shine through.

Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.

Sharshaf Salah - Women's Prayer Dress

Muslim women usually pray at home, and when they do, they usually throw on a special dress for prayer over the normal clothing they are wearing. In Saudi Arabia, this prayer dress is called "Sharshaf Salah."   For prayer, Islam requires that women cover every part of their bodies except the face and the hands.

The sharshaf comes in many different styles and fabrics, and is most often a one piece loose flowing garment, including an attached scarf or hood to cover the hair.  They can be found in most souks and are reasonably priced.

Jeddah Women Shopping in Al Balad

While many expat women living in Jeddah have shed the once obligatory abaya in favor of normal modest clothing, many Saudi women still wear the traditional flowy black abaya when out in public. 

There are some younger modern Saudi women who have broken with tradition and no longer even cover their hair, but for the most part, many still conform to the cultural norms. 

I'm seeing fewer women wearing the facial veil, called niqab, but there are plenty who still don that too.  The last photo features a woman wearing the ultra conservative head to toe abaya, called jilbaab, which totally obscures the female form altogether, where even her shoulders are difficult to make out. 

Move Over, Fulla! Hayati Girl's in Town!

Back in 2003, a modestly dressed doll named Fulla hit the marketplace here in the Middle East.  Fulla was introduced as an alternative to the Barbie doll, being about the same size as Barbie.  Fulla had dark eyes and hair and was heralded as Barbie's more traditional, more moral, more religious cousin.  Fulla wore the hijab (scarf) on her head, and in Saudi Arabia, she wore an abaya (the black cloak women wear).  In other markets, Fulla dressed modestly.  Well, at first she did anyway. 

After a while I noticed Fulla dolls were available without the hijab, even wearing knee length skirts and short sleeve tops. This may have just been that the dolls for other markets outside KSA had made their way to the kingdom.  Interestingly enough, unlike Barbie, who is completely naked when her clothes are removed, Fulla has undergarments painted on to her plastic body.  I remember when I first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2007, there was actually a ban on the sales of Barbie dolls and her image here.  But over the years the ban was lifted and now Barbie is readily available.  Strangely enough, nowadays Fulla has become more and more difficult to find here.  

But there is a new kid in town ... Hayati Girl!

Hayati Girl seems to be fashioned after the American Girl dolls and are of a similar size.  Hayati Girl wears the hijab and also dresses modestly.  I think her face is very similar to the American Girl dolls.

Hayati Girl dolls are priced in the stores here at 200sr, which is about $53 US.  But I saw the Hayati Girl Prayer set (same one as above and below) selling online for 282sr, which converts to $75 US.  It looks like these prices are right in line with the cost of the American Girl dolls, which average $60 US.   

Our World: Modestly Dressed Dolls

I had been on the lookout for dolls dressed in abayas and scarves, as I hadn't seen them in a few years, so when I stumbled upon the motherlode at a local shop, I purchased several.  The dolls above are named Rahma and she is dressed modestly.  They are larger than a Barbie doll and aren't shaped like Barbies either.

The doll above is the Barbie-like Fulla doll.  Fulla is Islam's answer to the Barbie doll.  Here she wears an abaya (the black cloak) and a head scarf (hijab).

These Fulla dolls have colored scarves.  The one in the white jacket is meant to be a modestly dressed working woman.  The Fulla doll on the right in the striped skirt is dressed as she would be when not out in public.

This shop had a whole section of one wall stocked in these Islamically correct dolls.  They had a great selection.




Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.