MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
For many women in the UAE, preparing Ramadan and Eid wardrobes is a serious annual ritual - one that drives months of planning and a seasonal rush at tailoring shops across Abu Dhabi.
The busiest tailoring districts in the capital include Bani Yas, Airport Road, and Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, where workshops report high volumes of orders weeks before Ramadan and throughout the holy month, particularly for bespoke mukhawar dresses and abayas.
Prices vary widely depending on fabric, craftsmanship, and design complexity.
Ready-made or basic cotton mukhawars can cost as little as Dh80, while high-quality silk pieces with intricate embroidery may exceed Dh2,000.
Mukhawar is a traditional women's garment widely worn in the UAE and across the Gulf, particularly for social visits and special occasions. It is typically layered under a black abaya when going out.
This loose, ankle-length dress is known for its colourful fabrics, intricate embroidery, and decorative detailing along the neckline, sleeves and hem.
Tailors say hand-made detailing - particularly crystal embellishments, beadwork and embroidery - significantly increases costs, as does tailoring garments to exact measurements.
Mohammad Jamal, a tailor at Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, said fully customised pieces can take between three and four months to complete.
"Some clients want every detail personalised: fabric, colour, embroidery patterns and placement," he said.
"That process takes time, especially during Ramadan when orders increase."
This timeline includes far more than sewing alone, Jamal explained.
The process typically begins with design consultations, fabric selection, and the development of bespoke patterns and embellishments - a phase that can span weeks, especially with long waiting lists during peak seasons.
For those unfamiliar with production timelines or unable to secure bespoke orders, ready-made mukhawars that are altered to size can typically be completed the same day or within two days, according to Jamal.
Some workshops also offer semi-ready designs, where key elements such as the fabric layers and decorative embroidery on the neckline and chest are already prepared.
These pieces require additional tailoring and finishing, which typically take around four days, tailors told Aletihad.
Abayas usually take around seven days to produce, but many customers place their orders weeks ahead of Ramadan to ensure they have new garments ready at the start of the holy month.
'Women Mean Business'
Tailors say demand is driven by the cultural importance of wearing new garments during Ramadan and Eid.
"Having your mukhawar ready for Ramadan and Eid is serious. Women mean business," Imran, another tailor at Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, told Aletihad.
"Very high expectations are set because these occasions are important for families."
The pressure can sometimes lead to tense situations when deadlines are not met.
Fatima, a 42-year-old Emirati resident of Abu Dhabi, said she once faced delays with a tailor during Eid preparations.
"They take so many orders that they cannot finish on time," she told Aletihad, expressing frustration after a tailor missed a promised delivery date for her garment.
Imran recalled one incident where a customer escalated a delayed order. "She was very upset because her mukhawars were not ready," he said.
To avoid such incidents, some customers start planning as early as a year ahead. Noora Al Mansoori, a 29-year-old Emirati, said she placed her Ramadan order immediately after last year's Eid celebrations.
"That's the only way to guarantee a customised one is ready in time. I don't want to take any risks," she told Aletihad.
Bespoke is Best
Despite the rise of fast fashion, custom tailoring remains very popular among residents seeking unique garments that reflect tradition, craftsmanship, and personal style.
Imran said customers typically begin placing orders four to six weeks before Ramadan.
"Regular clients come early because they know the pressure rises quickly," he said.
"By the first week of Ramadan, the workshop is already full of orders for Eid outfits."
Marah Saleh, an expatriate resident experiencing her first Ramadan in the UAE, was surprised by how long it takes to make a mukhawar. Unprepared and pressed for time, she ended up choosing a ready-made piece that was tailored to her size.
But the experience has her already planning ahead for next year.
"Next Ramadan, I want to have my own custom mukhawar with my choice of fabric, embroidery, and colours, so I can truly wear something unique for the celebrations," she added, her excitement palpable despite the missed opportunity this year.
