In the UAE, the white 'kandora' is traditionally worn by men and the black 'abaya' by women. They're deeply rooted gender symbols. But society is progressing and so are the roles of its men and women. A recent example being that Sheikh Mohammed from Dubai appointed the first female parliamentary speaker in the Middle East. At the same time, men are taking up more diverse responsibilities in parenting.
This photo was an entry in the Arabian Eye Photo Challenge, symbolizing the development of traditional gender roles. For anyone from outside the Gulf, to understand the significance: try googling an image like this - it doesn't exist.
The male model was brave enough to dress like a woman, something that's considered a crime and is punishable by law. The female model felt uncomfortable wearing the head scarf like a man's 'keffiyeh', so she styled it the way women wear their scarf.
