Can you wear shorts in Bahrain?

Yes. Arab clothing is not generally worn by foreign males; instead, western attire is preferred. It is not appropriate for males to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts on the street as these are considered too casual, however, this is changing as tourism grows. That being said, Gulf residents seldom ever wear suits outside of formal business meetings and associated social gatherings. In the workplace, a long-sleeved shirt, a tie, and airy pants are standard attire.

The thobe is a loose, ankle-length robe worn by Arab males, often composed of fine white cotton (or, in winter, thicker woolen material). The cut of the material and the fastenings at the front and neck of thobes vary throughout types. The ones with tassels worn by Omanis are arguably the most unique.

Wearing a thobe is appropriate for both social and professional settings. The bisht, an outer cloak, is worn for formal events and may be quite expensive. It is made of the highest-quality cloth and has gold thread embroidery around the edges.

The guthra, a traditional and unique head covering, is a checkered fabric, either white or red, that is kept in place by a black "rope" that was originally used as a camel tether. There are several varieties of agal. For instance, Qataris typically don a headdress with two long "tails" that extend down the back, evoking an African headpiece. Saudi males are strictly urged to wear the national dress at all times, yet Arab men occasionally wear casual clothing on particularly relaxed events like at the beach.