How much Arabian folklore is featured in Dragon Ball?

[GhostEmperorX]

As we know, DB as a series by Toriyama (and Toei) has numerous different media that it references, parodies, and is influenced by, from old Chinese tales like Journey to the West, martial arts films, and Wuxia works to tokusatsu series and films such as Gamera, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, etc. Even Spaghetti Westerns, old Samurai/Jidaigeki films, and 80's Hollywood titles have some notable shout outs.

With all this said though, it also seems as though Arabian stories have also been referenced in some small ways throughout.
Some examples I can think of include the village with the rabbit villain whose name I presently forget where the people had an Arabic motif for their clothing (and Bulma wore one of their outfits), Mr. Popo who not only has Arabic clothing, but also a magic carpet, the regular outfits that Namekians wear as well as Porunga both resembling and operating like a Genie (3 wishes), and I'm not too sure if this even counts, but the appearance of the fusions like Gotenks & Gogeta.

I'm not sure of any references beyond those, but is there ever any mention of these and more in an official capacity from Toriyama or anyone at Toei?

EDIT: Just after I post this, I realize that I completely forgot about Majin Boo and that there has indeed been a mention somewhere.

[LoganForkHands73]

There’s a strong association between the magical elements and Arabian mythological motifs in the Majin Buu arc. Buu himself is basically a Djinn, something some manga translations make even more explicit — he’s a mischievous magical being who emerges from his sealed tomb in a vaporous form before wreaking all sorts of havoc. While it seems to be a coincidence in-universe, there was definitely a theme behind giving Gotenks, the result of a magical fusion technique, a very similar outfit to Buu himself.

[Cure Dragon 255]

I was afraid to make a thread and this gives me a chance to say this. Its not folklore but I think Piccolo Daimao lived in the equivalent of the Middle East. He grew up seeing first hand the cruelty and evil of war and that when the Nameless Namekian separated this evil became Piccolo Daimao.

[GhostEmperorX]

I was afraid to make a thread and this gives me a chance to say this. Its not folklore but I think Piccolo Daimao lived in the equivalent of the Middle East. He grew up seeing first hand the cruelty and evil of war and that when the Nameless Namekian separated this evil became Piccolo Daimao.

I probably used the wrong term, maybe "culture" works better, geography and other aspects are welcome additions too.

[Cure Dragon 255]

No, you misuderstood, I was not criticizing you or saying you were wrong. I meant "I know what I am about to say doesnt have anything to do with folklore but I want to mention this".

You are cool, and Arabian folklore DEFINITELY influenced Dragon Ball. But I wanted to mention Piccolo Daimao's origin. Most of the victims of his cruelty in the past wear Middle Eastern looking clothes and Hijabs, AT LEAST in the anime.

[GhostEmperorX]

You are cool, and Arabian folklore DEFINITELY influenced Dragon Ball. But I wanted to mention Piccolo Daimao's origin. Most of the victims of his cruelty in the past wear Middle Eastern looking clothes and Hijabs, AT LEAST in the anime.

Thanks, I appreciate it
(Although I do have to say I haven't yet seen everything...)
I wonder if all that was also window dressing of some kind though.

[Jord]

Baba's palace has a very 1001 Nights look with it's architecture and being in the middle of the desert.