Thawb

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A man wearing a thawb (white gown) under a bisht (black overcoat worn over the thawb)

A thawb or khameez (Arabic: ثوب‎) is an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. It is typically worn by men in the Arabian Peninsula and some surrounding countries. It is normally made of cotton, but heavier materials such as sheep's wool can also be used, especially in colder climates. Alternative spellings include Thoub and Thobe. It may also be known as dishdashah (also dishdasha) and in more colloquial English dishdash.

There has been some debate regarding the correct length of the thawb. The length should be somewhat shorter than ankle level to remain free of Nagâssah (impurity), otherwise it is disqualified for prayer.

The style of the thawb varies slightly among the various regions within the Gulf. The sleeves and the collar can be hardened to give a more formal appearance. In Morocco the sleeves tend to be a lot shorter so that the thawb may seem more like a long T-shirt. Also the neck tends to be more open that in its Saudi counterpart. Also it might lack buttons all together.

The term thawb is also used to refer to a very long, oversized woman's garment with a heavily embroidered front panel and billowing back, also known as a Khaleeji dress. These dresses are most commonly seen in the West being worn for performance of the Saudi women's social dancing style, in which manipulation of the large thawb is a key component.