Al-Egal

Al-Egal is a term used to describe the part worn by men on the head above al-Shemagh or Ghutra. Al-Egal has a circular shape and is a culturally distinctive element of the national dress in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its size and material have evolved over three centuries.

Taif Governorate in the west of the Kingdom is known for the production of high-quality Egal. Some households and families would compete in weaving al-Egal al-Muqassab, including al-Hariri family in the Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, who were known for the high quality of their materials. In the capital, Riyadh, al-Dirah market near al-Hukm Palace is known for the production and sales of traditional Egal.

There are several types of al-Egal, including al-Muqassab or al-Shatfah egal, which was popularly known as the kings' Egal as it was worn by three Saudi kings: the founder of Kingdom, King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and his sons King Saud and King Faisal. This style is no longer common in the twenty-first century. There is also the twisted egal, which combines two materials: wool and silk. Additionally, there is the royal egal, which is considered the best after al-Muqassab one, as the more it is used and handled by the hands, the deeper its black color becomes.

The best materials for al-Egal production and weaving are black goat hair, known as 'al-Mar'az' for its deep black color and long-lasting durability. Despite the simplicity of wearing al-Egal compared to other parts of the Saudi formal dress, it is easy to figure out the wearer’s experience in wearing it upon sight. The deep black egal is the most commonly used type currently, with varieties made of velvet, cotton, wool, silk, and plastic. It comes in different sizes to fit different head circumferences, with a standard circular circumference of 110 cm.

In the social context, the term, al-Egal, expresses a sense of pride and honor. One might hear someone calling another or a group who are dear to him as 'Oh my Egal'. The way al-Egal is placed and its angle can also indicate the customs of certain regions in the Kingdom. Some social habits are associated with al-Egal as the most prominent part of the Saudi man's dress.

The culture of wearing al-Egal has existed among the people of the Kingdom since ancient times, starting with wrapping a piece of cloth of different colors around the head, which then evolved into the current circular egal shape. In the Kingdom and the Hejaz region in particular, the people of Makkah al-Mukarramah are known for wearing al-Egal 'al-Muqassab' or 'al-Muraba', known as the 'Faisal Egal' as King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud used to wear it. Al-Egal al-Muqassab is made of camel hair and is light brown or white, with two hanging threads.