20/04/2026
Batulah / Burqa and Veiling in the UAE
Veiling in the region of the United Arab Emirates predates Islam and has evolved through long historical layers of social and cultural influence. In ancient societies such as Assyria, veiling already functioned as a marker of social status, later spreading through regions like Persia via trade and contact.
In Islamic contexts, modesty became an important principle, but there is no single prescribed form of veiling, which led to diverse regional practices.
In the Gulf, the batulah (also called burqa or burghu) is a traditional face mask. It is a structured covering that leaves the eyes visible and was worn with the abaya. It often featured stiffened fabric in colours such as red, gold, or indigo.
The batulah developed through multiple influences, including pre-Islamic veiling traditions, Persian and Arabian practices, Indian Ocean trade networks, and migration patterns. A notable contribution comes from Balochistan, where migration from southern Iran into Oman and coastal Arabia helped transmit cultural practices, including dress.
Socially, the batulah could signal adulthood, marital status, regional identity, or social standing, with variations in style and colour reflecting local distinctions. In some cases, it may have first been adopted by lower-status groups before becoming more widely used.
From the 20th century onwards, modernization, urbanization, and changing social norms led to its decline in everyday use, while other forms of veiling such as the niqab became more common in some contexts.
Today, the batulah is mainly preserved as cultural heritage in the UAE, appearing in traditional settings and older generations’ lived memory.
Overall, the batulah reflects a layered history shaped by ancient customs, regional exchange, migration, and social evolution, rather than a single origin or purely religious requirement.
Sources:
-The Zay Initiative - Dr Reem Tariq El Mutwalli
-The Emirati Burqa from a Cultural, Historical and Contemporary Art - Karima Alshomely
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