The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotions (MoCIIP) has cautioned clothiers and outfitters in the Sultanate against tinkering with the traditional design and style of Omani dresses and costumes, such as the kummah, musar, dishdasha or women’s abaya.
Examples of design tampering can include the sewing, printing or embroidering slogans and trademarks of foreign clubs or incorporating drawings contrary to the public interest or merging the design of the kummah or musar or other traditional dresses in any form that may amount to a distortion of these costumes, it said.
The Directorate of Commercial Affairs and Electronic Commerce at the Ministry emphasized that the Omani dress is an important symbol of the traditional Omani heritage. It warned that some commercial establishments were found to be in violation of Ministerial Decision 270/2015, which bans the import or sale of merchandise found to be offensive to the Omani dress identity and costumes. Some establishments were also found selling products that had images and slogans considered offensive or against common moral practices or the public order. It noted that it has stepped up its inspection of tailoring shops in various governorates of the Sultanate.
The Omani standard specification for the Omani Dishdasha defines the Dishdasha as a loose-fitting garment, embroidered on the neck, chest and ends of the sleeves, in accordance with its type. Cotton cloth is often used in the tailoring and sewing of Dishdasha, and it is made of plain fabric. It is permissible to use cotton fabric mixed with polyester as well as wool, while it is embroidered with cotton threads.
The Dishdasha is the men's dress in the Sultanate and is classified into several types. One of the most important types mentioned in the specification is the commonly used one, which is worn by citizens in most governorates of the Sultanate, and is considered the official Omani dress.
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