Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 18, 2026

Madhalla

The madhalla is a traditional hat used in Yemen and worn by women. The hats have a wide circular brim and a peaked top. The straw hats are peaked to keep the wearer cool in hot temperatures. Being almost two feet tall, the design promotes air circulation within the hat. They have been noted to resemble witch hats. It is made from plaited strips of date palm leaves. They are often worn in Hadhramaut by female herders and field workers who also wear black abayas. The hat can be obtained at some souqs.

Last revised
Jun 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
261 w
Citations
19
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Madhalla on display in Shibam source ↗

The madhalla is a traditional hat used in Yemen and worn by women.1234 The hats have a wide circular brim and a peaked top.5 The straw hats are peaked to keep the wearer cool in hot temperatures.2 Being almost two feet tall, the design promotes air circulation within the hat.4 They have been noted to resemble witch hats.136 It is made from plaited strips of date palm (nakhl, Arabic: نخل) leaves.578 They are often worn in Hadhramaut by female herders and field workers who also wear black abayas.12349 The hat can be obtained at some souqs.1

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Walker, J.; Carter, T.; Dunston, L. (2007). Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. LONELY PLANET ARABIAN PENINSULA (in Indonesian). Lonely Planet. p. 508. ISBN 978-1-74104-546-8. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  2. Khan, Gulnaz (2017-04-03). "This Ancient Mud Skyscraper City is the 'Manhattan of the Desert'". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  3. Walker, J.; Carter, T.; Dunston, L. (2007). Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. LONELY PLANET ARABIAN PENINSULA (in Indonesian). Lonely Planet. p. 574. ISBN 978-1-74104-546-8. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  4. Downey, Tom (2007-12-30). "Yemen's Exotic Secrets". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  5. "hat". British Museum. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  6. Publications, Jpm (2000). Gulf States. This Way Guides. JPM Publications. p. 103. ISBN 978-2-88452-099-7. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  7. Royal Gardens, Kew (1895). Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 302. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  8. Balfour-Paul, J. (2012). Indigo in the Arab World. Taylor & Francis. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-136-60324-2. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  9. "Yemen: Where time stands still..." Globerovers Magazine. 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2017-04-09.