What do expat women wear in abu dhabi

Security are well within their right to call the police if you do not cooperate when it comes to clothing rules. Equally avoid wearing thongs, even at a resort. As soon as you leave a pool or beach area, make sure you are covered up again. Prepubescent children should feel free to wear what they please when it comes to dressing in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Once they are teenagers however, they have the same dress requirements as adults. Keri is a long-time UAE resident with 3 children. You can read more about Keri and all our City Insiders here. Want to be our next city insider? We all recruiting insiders from around the globe to help provide details from the best place to eat to where to pick up bargains or best way to avoid the crowds!

You can apply to be a Little City Insider here. Religious buildings require women to be fully covered. Dressing correctly for the beach in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is a tricky balance between comfort and modesty. More on this later! While Dubai and Abu Dhabi are Muslim emirates, they are definitely more liberal than some of their neighbors. This statement comes with a BUT. As a general rule, think classy , elegant and timeless pieces that you will feel both comfortable and chic in, while remaining considerate of the locals.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are actually very chill and open-minded, and there is no dress code, but there are a few things to be mindful of when in public places. Disclaimer: this guide does not apply to UAE as a whole. As mentioned, the UAE is made up of 7 emirates, and while Abu Dhabi and Dubai are known for being liberal, dress codes for the other emirates such as Sharjah are known for being far more conservative. I personally have yet to visit Sharjah, however this was the popular opinion from my research for this article.

Foreign visitors are not expected to wear traditional dress, but I thought I would throw this in for anyone who might be curious. Make no mistake, this is very much because they want to and not because they have to.

The traditional dress is not imposed by law. The abayas are worn with black sheilahs that cover the head and hair, with the face remaining uncovered. Many of these abayas and sheilahs are beautifully embroidered and the women wearing them are equally as beautiful.

Often wearing stylish dark sunglasses and the latest Chanel handbag , they ooze elegance and sophistication shrouded in mystery, leaving an intoxicating trail of oud scent behind them.

If you fancy exploring fragrances that are best sellers with Middle Eastern clients, you might want to read this article on Thamee n. And if you fancy dressing like a local — you definitely can! The abaya is not restricted to locals.

Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are pretty much sunny all year round, but there are some months when I would advise against visiting, purely because of the heat. Winter falls between December and February, but unlike Europe, the weather during this time is pleasantly warm, with the occasional storm. That being said, the best time to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi is between October and March or April, with my own personal preference being end of November and the beginning of December.

Not just because the weather in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is perfect this time of year, and the sea temperature warm from the summer months, but also because you can squeeze in the F1 Grand Prix during your trip which is a whole article to itself! Among the questions I saw repeatedly? My answer to this goes back to the beginning. Always keep in the back of your head that as open-minded as it is, it is still a Muslim country and that should be respected by visitors.

Yes, you can wear summer dresses and shorts, but make sure they are classy and respectful. The same applies to shorts—but they should be a reasonable length. On the other hand, if you have pretty summer dresses that are classy and knee length or even slightly above the knee , those are fine. Longer shorts likes culottes are also fine. Bearing your shoulders is generally acceptable in most places, but not all, and long-sleeves are definitely not required.

Crop tops are also fine IF you couple them with high-waisted pants, but not if bearing your midriff. When traveling to the UAE it is vital to adopt a slightly more modest approach in what clothing you pack.

Resort and beach wear is a must, but this is limited to private beach resorts and hotel pools only. Shopping excursions, brunches and dinner dates are a different story.

This rule applies to both men and women. For mosque visits you need to take more precaution with what you wear — even in the middle of summer. The majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque supplies their visitors with kandouras men and burqas ladies.

Without proper attire, your entry into a mosque will be refused. For ladies, summers are a perfect time to pack your linen trousers, lightweight t-shirts, leggings, knee-length shorts and loafers for any visits to places other than mosques.

Pack a shawl for you to take with to cover up when needed. Winters require thin jackets, pullovers and jeans for when the evenings cool down, but generally-speaking, you will find that even between January and March, the day temperatures are still comfortable enough to get away with a long-sleeved shirt and trousers.

The same packing guidelines apply for men, but you might want to remember to wear shorts that hit the knee-mark and to leave the chest and shoulder bearing vests at home or at least keep them reserved for the pool-side. This popular dining spot with its gazebo-covered tables, candlelit atmosphere and breaking waves a few meters away from your seat is as romantic as it gets. Dress up for the occasion in a printed maxi-dress, ballet flats and tag along your faithful companion, otherwise known as the shawl.

Your dinner date too, would suffice. A comfortable pair of linen trousers should work well, but for this excursion you are not really required to cover up since the safaris are not conducted by locals. If you wish to dress in shorts and a t-shirt, feel free to do so, but during the cooler months you might want to pack a pull-over and trousers for when the sun sets.

It gets chilly out there and desert safari dinners are known to take a couple of hours. Up for a night out on the town? Yes, Abu Dhabi does have nightlife, but it takes a bit of research and at times, an Uber trip to the other side of the city to get your groove on. Dress up to the nines for The Yacht Club at the Intercontinental and if you are going for something that shows some skin, remember that shawl of yours.

If you are not planning on packing your little black dress and skyscraper heels, opt for a trendy pair of distressed skinny jeans, white sneakers, a boyfriend shirt and perhaps a few of those new pieces of jewelry your bought at the gold souq instead.

For a visit to a mosque you will have to ensure that your hair is covered and that you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Remember to pack your slip-on sandals because you will wear them at the beach and perhaps even to the mall when summer shows its heated face.

A good pair of linen trousers will become your staple for visits to the mosques, cultural sites and perhaps for dinner at the stylish Byblos Sur Mer for some must-have Lebanese cuisine. Pair your trousers with a lightweight shirt and leather loafers.

Bar-hopping in Abu Dhabi can be fun, because it does come as somewhat of a surprise how many places there are to experience. This is no time to saunter into the pub in flip flops and a board shorts.

Brave a few minutes of heat as you leave the hotel and as you enter one of the many watering holes in your finest jeans, a plain light-weight t-shirt and sneakers. Men in Abu Dhabi do tend to dress up even for a few beers at the bar, because their night usually takes them to trend-spotting nightclubs across the city. Best to keep those tailored pants and formal shoes handy then….

Lightweight trousers, t-shirt and comfortable sneakers will do just fine. Your baseball cap will come in handy for any outdoor activity and probably some sunscreen too. As of April, the cooler day and night temperatures slowly rise and by May, summer is in full swing. Towards June it becomes humid and almost unbearably hot. The best way to approach summer is to dress light and to consider breathable fabric.

Shorts and t-shirts are fine for casual dressing, but always put a modest foot forward. This is obviously the best time of year to visit Abu Dhabi, but just like anywhere in the world, you can expect a slight spike in hotel rates. We have touched base on the basics that involve dressing for a trip to a mosque in or around the city.