The UAE heritage files: The Emirati battoulah

Learn the way of the land…

Hello and welcome to the very first installment of the UAE Heritage Files, an exploration of the rich and ravishing Emirati culture, tradition and hospitality. As residents of this foreign country we choose to call our own, we must learn the way of the land we love.

Our topic of interest today is the battoulah – a traditional, regional face covering worn by Emirati women, especially in the older generations. Some variation of the battoulah is found in several countries in the Middle East, including Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and holds a significance beyond just the norms of religious and cultural modesty. Like any custom, it is layered with years of practice and evolving connotations.

We’ve all seen the battoulah at some point in our time living in the UAE. The shiny, foil-esque, primarily gold or silver masks feature a slimmer panel for the forehead and a larger panel for the nose and mouth, attached by a thin bridge that sits on top of the nose. The eye area is left uncovered. The basic design of the battoulah remains the same, but every region has a touch of it’s own in terms of size and colouring.

Exploring the history

The purposes of wearing a battoulah also vary. Different theories tell us different stories of why different classes and groups of women adopted the mask. Typically, the battoulah was a sign of womanhood and matrimony, worn as soon as a young girl showed signs of puberty, and eventually upon marriage. More for cultural modesty and less for religion, once worn, the mask was worn at all times, especially in public.

Other historical recordings tell us that the migration of the Baluchi people of Southern Iran across the gulf to Oman led to the establishment of a local community – a group that spoke a mix of Persian and Indian Urdu, and engaged in domestic and manual labour.

Interaction between the local and migrant populations naturally led to an exchange in the customs and traditions, and it is said that the Baluchis were the first to start wearing the mask – perhaps to elevate their status with the metallic appearance of the mask instead of more expensive gold jewellery.

In Qeshm, another part of Iran, a moustache-shaped variation of the mask was said to have been worn by women to look more tough and severe, in order to deceive invaders and enemies into thinking they were male soldiers, in order to protect themselves from being picked out for their looks.

Of course, the practical reasons include protection from the elements such as the sun and the sand, usually heightened and harsh in this part of the world.

In the UAE…

Today in the UAE, every Emirate has a unique battoulah design of their own – they can have different sizes, shapes, make of fabrics and embellishments. While some cover nearly the entire face, some are smaller and reveal more of the eyes and the lower jaw. They could be made of leather or heavily embroidered fabric, but the locally popular design is mostly of a metallic finish.

The inside of the mask is lined with a special fabric, traditionally imported from India and of different cost and quality. Red was expensive and indicated wealth, and was sought out by wealthy women. Yellow was more middle class and green was the least expensive. The sturdiest part of the mask is the bridge that sits on top of the nose. This part gives the mask body and structural integrity and is made of wood, bamboo or palm.

While the use of the battoulah is not as prominent in the younger generation of Emiratis, it is still a tradition of high value and honoured on special occasions.

@qasralhosn

Images: Socials