The Saudi government has decided that it is time that students taking exams must not be wearing an abaya.
The Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission— along with the Ministry of Education—has proclaimed that the education and training systems will not be accredited if female students wear abayas during examinations.
All clothing should adhere to public decency regulations, the ETEC said that students should wear school uniforms during exams.
It was reported in 2018 at the time in Saudi Arabia that the abaya would no longer be legally required, although many women in the country continue to do so.
Women across the Gulf wear colourful abayas, in light blues and pinks, traditionally black. The abaya is a long-sleeved, black in style, floor-long garment. When a lady goes out of her home, the abaya is worn over street garments and is designed to be free and flowing, hiding the body’s “curves. The abaya may slip over the chest, but will usually open at the front, close with snaps, zipper, or layers that overlap. The sleeves are made of the same fabric; they are not stitched on individually. The abaya can be worn with other clothes, like a scarf covering the hair.
