Saudi Arabia: National Dress Mandatory in Government Workplaces (Image)

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia has approved the requirement for individuals in Saudi government agencies to wear national dress within their workplaces. In a letter to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he stated, "We have reviewed what you have presented, and we inform you of our agreement on this matter, and that regulatory bodies should submit periodic reports on the compliance of Saudi government employees with this requirement." The decision mandates that Saudi civilian employees in government agencies wear the national dress (thobe and ghutrah or shemagh) from the time they enter their workplaces until they leave, except for those whose work nature requires them to wear a specific professional outfit, such as doctors, healthcare practitioners, engineers, and similar professions.