Contrary to what some may think, Qataris do not have the market on thobes. In his latest #Q-Tip, I Love Qatar co-founder Khalifa Saleh Al Haroon explains that many locals would actually be honored to see expats dressed in the long, flattering attire.

He said:

“It means you’re embracing our culture – you’re accepting the way we dress and you also want to experience the way Qataris dress.”

But, Al Haroon also advises residents who plan to don thobes to not do so for the first time on Halloween, as that may be taken the wrong way by the local community.

An ideal day to try on a thobe, he added, is National Day, which is celebrated each year on Dec. 18.

To get an idea on how traditional dress varies from Gulf country to country, check out a guide to thobes in the region here.

Do you own any Qatari-style attire? Thoughts?