Holidays are happy occasions where you get the opportunity
to explore new places, learn a new culture, try out different varieties of food
and meet new people. Packing for your holiday is as important as booking your
tickets and making hotel reservations. Most of us pack clothes as per the
climate of the place we are going to. If you are holidaying in a cold place,
you would pack warm clothes, sweaters and jackets, while you would pack cotton
clothes, shorts and t-shirts if you are holidaying in a place that has a warm
climate. However, sometimes, the attire you wear during your holidays does not
rely on the climate, rather on the culture of the place you are visiting. This
rule applies to Dubai or rather UAE (United Arab Emirates).
Dubai is undoubtedly one of the most modern cities in the
Arab world. The huge skyscrapers, the large malls, the chic restaurants, the
luxurious hotels, etc. are the symbols of the growth and development of the
city. Moreover, people from all over the world reside in this beautiful city.
While Dubai looks like an ultra-modern city, it is still rooted to its religion
and traditions. In short, Dubai is a Muslim country. While you do not have to
wear a hijab or an abaya if you are a non-Muslim, it would be best to be
slightly conservative while dressing up. Here are some points that will help
you to know how to dress in Dubai.
For Women
There are several rules that women have to follow when it
comes to dress code in Dubai. These should be followed when in public places
like roads, malls, theatres, markets, public areas of hotels, etc. Take a look
at a few of them:
·
Western clothing of jeans, capris, pants with
tops and blouses are allowed. However, refrain from wearing too revealing
clothes.
·
Your arms, legs and cleavage should always be
covered.
·
Do not wear clothes like tube tops, Daisy Duke
Shorts, crop tops, mesh tops, miniskirts, etc. Refrain from wearing transparent
dresses.
·
In case you wear tube tops or spaghetti tops, it
would be a good idea to cover yourself with a Pashmina shawl, cardigan or
jacket.
·
If you are wearing a short skirt or dress, it
would be best to cover your legs with leggings. However, leggings should not be
worn just with a top.
·
Make sure that your undergarments are not
visible through your clothing. This can cause you lot of trouble.
·
If you are visiting a mosque in Dubai or
anywhere in UAE, you would be required to wear an abaya, which would be
provided at the mosque.
·
You may be asked to wear an abaya while entering
government and municipality buildings and sometimes hospitals too.
·
In case you are working out in a gym or
exercising in the open, do not wear too revealing clothes. Make sure your
shoulders and legs (at least till the knees) are covered.
·
Women can wear bikini on the beach or the pool
area of the hotel. However, you should never go to public areas like shops and
malls wearing beach wear. Restrict beach wear to the beach itself.
·
Your bikini should not be too revealing. Do not
wear thongs. A one piece bikini or shorts and t-shirt are ideal for beach wear.
·
You are free to wear whatever you want in pubs
and discos. However, you need to cover up properly while travelling from your home
or hotel room to the disco. So, do not forget to carry a shawl or jacket.
For Men
Here are the rules that men should follow in terms of
dresscode in Dubai. These should also be followed in public places.
·
Men should not wear shorts that are too short.
Do not come out of your home or hotel room in trunks or boxer shorts.
·
If you wear shorts, make sure that they cover
your knees.
·
While the temperature of Dubai can soar as high
as 40 degrees Celsius, in no way can you walk bare-chested in public. Wearing
only vests is also not allowed.
·
You can wear your trunks and shorts on the beach
or near the pool area. However, do not wear these clothes in the public area.
Carry something to wear over your beach wear while travelling from your hotel
room to the beach or pool side and back.
·
If you are visiting a mosque, you may be asked
to wear a kandourah over your clothes. Even if you do not have to wear this
attire, you would not be allowed inside the mosque if you are wearing shorts
and sleeveless t-shirt.
·
Several restaurants, pubs and discos require men
to wear long trousers and covered shoes. Check the dress code of the venue
before going for a party or dinner.
Dealing with
Criticism
You must remember that Dubai follows Islamic law and as a
tourist or an expat, you need to respect the laws of the country or city you
are visiting or staying in. While going against the dress code of Dubai may not
have legal consequences, it can bring in criticisms from locals. In case
someone criticizes you for your clothes, do not shout or retaliate. It is best
to apologize and change your clothes or maybe do some immediate modifications
like wrapping a shawl or wearing a jacket. In case you retaliate, the police
may get involved, causing you to pay a fine or get imprisoned too. One
important thing you need to remember is that wearing bikini or beach wear
anywhere else other than the beach or pool side is illegal and can have
grievous consequences.
Dubai is quite open-minded when it comes to dress code in
comparison to other Arab countries. Hence, while you enjoy the luxuries and
modernity of Dubai, remember that you need to respect their culture and
tradition. This will also ensure that you have a great and incident-free
holiday.