Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Photojournalist + Visual Storyteller

vidhyaa.fotovisuratest.com

UAE:The Emirati Burqa

During the maritime festival, w...g the tradition are on display.

During the maritime festival, women who are working on handicrafts and displaying the tradition are on display.

The lining, called Al Sheel or ...he burqa'a of a bride.

The lining, called Al Sheel or Kashf Al Mah'atta, is the most important part of the burqa. It used to be brought in from India, and the price and quality varied. Rich women wanted to wear red because it was the most expensive color. Yellow was cheaper but not as good as the other colors. The cheapest color was green.

The quality of this lining depends on how light it is and how well it absorbs sweat, which is important for keeping the burqa'a's shine.
The bridge of the burqa'a over the nose is made of a small piece of palm, bamboo, or other local wood called "Al Seif."

"Al Shubuq" is the name for the red wool or cotton string, yellow or silver buttons, or a combination of all three that is used to tie the burqa together at the back of the head. Instead of red thread, gold or silver thread is used for the al shubuq at weddings and other special events.
Gold circles and stars are used to decorate the burqa'a of a bride.

It's evident that the b...ntion to their natural beauty.

It's evident that the burqa'a has undergone several transformations over the years. Women of all ages, from little girls to grandmothers, were expected to wear the full-face-covering burqa'a in public at all times.
These days, younger ladies are more likely to wear Burqas that are made of diverse fabrics and have a more modern cut. The burqa'as worn by older ladies are reminiscent of previous eras.
For formal occasions, today's young ladies in the Islamic veil, known as the burqa, choose to wear it in a way that draws attention to their natural beauty.

Al Burqa'a is a form of...women in modesty for millennia.

Al Burqa'a is a form of mask sewed from special cloth that has been used to cover women in modesty for millennia.

Artist from the United Arab Emirates displays her handmade burqa.

These women all looked stunning...rqas as they gathered together.

These women all looked stunning in their burqas as they gathered together.

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UAE:The Emirati Burqa

Copyright Vidhyaa Chandramohan 2024

Updated Jul 2022

Topics Spotlight

The Burqa'a is a traditional way for women to cover up in the United Arab Emirates. This accessory is usually worn by married women to show that they are married and not single. It is made of delicate fabric and is worn over the face.

Burqa'a makers, who are called Quraizah Burqa'a, have been making a living for generations by sewing burqas. This skill has been passed down from Emirati mother to daughter.

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Vidhyaa Chandramohan

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