The Winter Shal — Shal Tirmah
The shal is a winter ghutra of heavy wool, slightly larger than the white ghutra, replacing it in the cold months — and in the UAE it is worn on the head over the taqiyah, held by the egal. Its finest form is the tirmah, woven from fine down and sold as full or half tirmah, with Afshar, Bulbul and Shahmina among its known patterns. Prices are shown in-store.
What is the shal?
The shal is a winter headscarf of heavy wool, slightly larger than the standard white ghutra, decorated by needle or machine. Gulf men wear it through the cold months in place of the light summer ghutra — warmth with presence, and historically the winter dress of notables.
The UAE is distinctive — as documented by Al-Ittihad newspaper — in wearing the shal on the head as a ghutra, where other regions drape it over the shoulders.
The tirmah: the finest shal
The tirmah sits at the top of the shal family: woven from fine down, it combines light weight, a soft hand and real warmth. It is sold as "full tirmah" or "half tirmah", and Afshar, Bulbul and Shahmina are among the patterns known in the Qatari market.
Wool and craftsmanship
- The base is natural wool, most famously Kashmiri wool imported from the Kashmir region.
- Decoration ranges from hand embroidery to machine work — handwork carries the higher value and finer detail.
- Pure Kashmiri pieces rank above blends in softness and value.
Colours and patterns
Shal colours run from dark petrol and brown to light beige and grey, with some pieces decorated in burgundy and red. The quieter the colour, the wider its acceptance in formal settings; the richer the decoration, the more it leans to personal taste.
How is it worn?
Exactly like a ghutra: over a well-fitted taqiyah, secured with the egal, in the usual folds from simple to formal. Its relative weight helps it sit steady on the head in cold wind.
The shal season
The shal has a known season that opens with the first winter cold, when Gulf menswear markets come alive — of the Qatari season, merchant Shaheen Abu Bakr told Al-Sharq newspaper that "demand this year is greater than in previous years" (translated from Arabic). Trade quietens through summer until the cold returns.
The shal at Ashbiliya
The shal tirmah belongs to the ghutra family we have known since 1970. Ask your nearest of our eleven branches — or WhatsApp us — about current shal availability; prices are shown in-store.
Sources & references
Related questions
What is the difference between a shal and a regular ghutra?
The shal is a winter piece — heavy wool, slightly larger, with coloured decoration; the white ghutra is light summer cotton. Both are worn over a taqiyah and held by the egal.
What is tirmah?
The finest shal grade, woven from fine down that combines light weight with warmth; sold as full or half tirmah.
Is the shal worn on the head or the shoulders?
In the UAE it is worn on the head as a winter ghutra; in other regions it is draped over the shoulders.
When is shal season?
The winter months — demand opens with the first cold and recedes into summer.
What are the best-known tirmah patterns?
Afshar, Bulbul and Shahmina are among the patterns known in the Qatari market.