In all of the GCC: Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, owning major gold is the norm. As a kid on Oman, my little sis and I experienced trying on 3 lb gold diadems, and loading our arms up with bracelets [of which, we never bought]. But upon marriage an Omani girl (indeed, a Gulf girl, is expected to ask for some serrious gold, and we're not talking the white gold kind, but heavy traditional necklaces, and headpieces). When I got married here, I didn't ask for any gold which makes people ask, don't you like gold? Well, I mean, I have nothing against it but it is serriously expensive and doesn't make a marriage more successful or anything, so I just thought it a bit much to ask of a man who isn't super rich. In my home country unless you are super rich you don' t buy major jewelry. I don't wear it alot. I prefer jewelry I can wear out everyday. And that I can lose or have stolen without some major tears being shed. [I lose jewelry alot]. So recently one of my brother in laws insisted that I get some gold with a belated wedding gift. It will be something totally new for me. I like Omani silver more because I feel it is more traditional to Oman anyway.
Traditional Saudi gold.
Since gold in the Gulf is used like savings bonds, the idea is a woman can use it as financial backup if anything bad ever happens to her husband or her marriage. So you'll find emphasis is on weight and consistancy (not white gold here, heavy yellow gold is what is in demand). And why not have it worked into elaborate show peices like headresses, necklances, wide bracelets, rings, earrings, and even face veils? Much more interesting in wedding photos than a gold brick I guess, and comes from the tradition of women carrying their family wealth on their bodies in the days before banks.
An example of typical wedding gifts for a bride (pictured above).
Examples of Emirati gold (I'm a fan of the headpiece and necklace, I have costume equivelents).
Yemeni kids;)
Kuwaiti gold.
I still can't picture myself wearing alot of real gold. But I think the pictures of the kids wearing it are so cute mashaAllah.
In all of the GCC: Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, owning major gold is the norm. As a kid on Oman, my little sis and I experienced trying on 3 lb gold diadems, and loading our arms up with bracelets [of which, we never bought]. But upon marriage an Omani girl (indeed, a Gulf girl, is expected to ask for some serrious gold, and we're not talking the white gold kind, but heavy traditional necklaces, and headpieces). When I got married here, I didn't ask for any gold which makes people ask, don't you like gold? Well, I mean, I have nothing against it but it is serriously expensive and doesn't make a marriage more successful or anything, so I just thought it a bit much to ask of a man who isn't super rich. In my home country unless you are super rich you don' t buy major jewelry. I don't wear it alot. I prefer jewelry I can wear out everyday. And that I can lose or have stolen without some major tears being shed. [I lose jewelry alot]. So recently one of my brother in laws insisted that I get some gold with a belated wedding gift. It will be something totally new for me. I like Omani silver more because I feel it is more traditional to Oman anyway. 
Traditional Saudi gold.
Since gold in the Gulf is used like savings bonds, the idea is a woman can use it as financial backup if anything bad ever happens to her husband or her marriage. So you'll find emphasis is on weight and consistancy (not white gold here, heavy yellow gold is what is in demand). And why not have it worked into elaborate show peices like headresses, necklances, wide bracelets, rings, earrings, and even face veils? Much more interesting in wedding photos than a gold brick I guess, and comes from the tradition of women carrying their family wealth on their bodies in the days before banks. 
An example of typical wedding gifts for a bride (pictured above). 
Examples of Emirati gold (I'm a fan of the headpiece and necklace, I have costume equivelents).
Yemeni kids;) 
Kuwaiti gold.
Omani Gold. Omani gold is based on traditional silver designs. Most Omani gold is still purchased in the gold souq at Mutrah Souq. 
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