An abaya is a long, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Muslim world including North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and most of the Middle East. It is typically black in color and covers the entire body except for the head (sometimes), feet, and hands. The rationale for wearing the abaya is often attributed to the Quranic quote, "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, to cover themselves with a loose garment. They will thus be recognized and no harm will come to them" (Quran 33:59, translated by Ahmed Ali).
The abaya is a traditional garment that has developed into fashion apparel with brighter hues and innovative designs. It can be worn with other clothes, like a scarf covering the hair. In some places, abayas may feature intricate embroidery that is specific to that locality. In others, the choice of fabric and the style of draping can differ, allowing women to align their abaya with regional fashion preferences.
In Saudi Arabia, women were required to wear an abaya until 2018. However, outside some Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Morocco, and Qatar, the abaya is not widely worn by Muslim women.
