Gandoura vs Kaftan: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve browsed Moroccan robes online, you’ve probably seen one shop label a thobe a gandoura while another sells something nearly identical as a kaftan. The names overlap, and how people use them depends on where they’re from. So, gandoura vs kaftan: what’s the difference? For most men shopping in the UK, it comes down to sleeves and coverage. This is how you can distinguish them before you purchase one.

The short answer

In the mainstream of the U.K., a gandoura is the lighter robe, with short sleeves or none, worn for daily prayer and on warm days. The kaftan is slightly more formal than another version, with long sleeves. Yet another UK retailer, Thawab Clothing, has argued it is coverage, not tradition, that makes the primary difference when it comes to garments for sale in the UK.

What is a gandoura?

A gandoura is a light tunic made of wool or cotton, with or without sleeves, worn mainly in North Africa. The men’s version in Algeria is casual and resembles a djellaba without the hood. In Morocco it’s usually hoodless with short sleeves or none, and worn in warm weather or at home.

One thing that confuses searches: the same word names a women’s garment too. Algerian women's gandoura is a long, flaring satin or velvet gown embroidered with gold thread and beads for marriage ceremonies and festivals. In the year 2024, it was inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. But if your search results feature a mix of velvet wedding dresses and an everyday robe, then this is probably because of it. 

During the cold weather, a lot of men wear an Egyptian-banded kufi over their hoodie throughout the UK, and an Egyptian kufi cap is often paired with prayer.

What is a kaftan?

Kaftan is the more ancient and general term. It refers to a robe or tunic that spread across the Middle East and North Africa under the Abbasids, usually with long sleeves and an ankle-length cut, sometimes worn as a coat.

In Morocco today, a caftan is mostly an ornamented ceremonial robe linked with women’s occasionwear. UK men’s shops use the word differently. There, a men’s Moroccan kaftan is usually a long-sleeve robe, sometimes zipped, offering more coverage with a cleaner silhouette. Both are looser than Gulf styles such as Saudi kanduras, which tend to have a collar and a more tailored line.

Gandoura vs kaftan side by side

Which one should you buy?

If you want to wear it in your daily mosque visits and summer, you can choose a gandoura. 

Do get a kaftan if you are open at the top, or a more sophisticated look for Eid. For a more formal finish try pairing with a ghutra keffiyeh. 

Mistakes to avoid

Don’t buy by name alone. Check the sleeve length in the photos, because shops use the words inconsistently. Searching plain “kaftan” will mostly bring up women’s dresses and beach cover-ups, so add “men’s” or “Moroccan.” And since both robes are cut loose, check the length on the size guide rather than automatically sizing up.

For real British winters, neither is warm enough on its own. A hooded winter djelleba makes more sense, and you can wrap up further with something from our Yemeni shemagh shop.

So, gandoura or kaftan?

If you’ll wear it most days and want comfort, start with a gandoura. If you want coverage for occasions and cooler nights, a kaftan fits better. Plenty of men end up owning one of each. Whichever you choose, a simple kufi works with both.