dress code Archives • Middle East 24/7

Part of what expats need to understand about moving into the Middle East is that much of the traditions and customs observed in countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are heavily defined by its laws based on their religion, Islam – from the food and work practices, to public decency, which deals with dressing up and behaviour in public, among others.

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In this article, we will discuss the things which expats need to be reminded of in terms of dressing up, especially in public. Do note, however, that some places tend to be stricter than others when it comes to enforcing these rules. Nevertheless, it pays to know what are allowed and what are not, regardless of where you may be in the country.

What You Need to Know About the Dress Code in Saudi Arabia

Of course, there are separate restrictions for men and women, as with everything else here in Saudi Arabia. So we will take a look at the items allowed for men versus those that are not, as we will do the same for the women.

Men are allowed to wear the following in public:

Decent and smart clothing that does not reveal the shoulders and legs.
Office attire typically includes suits and ties (despite the heat!)

Men are NOT allowed to wear these in public:

Shorts and sleeveless tops, and those with obscene language or messages
Skinny jeans
Jewellery other than your wedding ring (if married) and a wrist watch
Wearing traditional Saudi outfit is not advisable as this may seem bizarre or even offensive behaviour to local Saudis.

Now for the women…

Women are allowed to wear the following in public:

Decent and smart clothing that covers the wrists, ankles, and chest
An abaya – a long cloak (usually black) that is put on top of your “regular” clothes; or
A hijab – which is similar to a headscarf for covering

Women are NOT allowed to wear these in public:

Tight and ill-fitting (body-hugging) clothing
See-through or very light fabric
Heavy make-up; remember… simplicity is the best.

Over the years, there have been many reforms regarding women’s rights and functions in society. Among these include allowing women to drive, to join the army, and assume roles that were traditionally designated only to men. Even the Saudi Crown Prince remarked that abayas “are not necessary” for women. Nevertheless, we want to be as respectful and decent as we can be in society, and to avoid offending others, especially the traditional Saudis.

In summary, the general rule when it comes to dressing up in public (as logic would tell us) is to be as smart and modest as you can when in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or anywhere in the Middle East, for that matter.

Also, note that the correct observance of dress code is monitored by the Matawain (religious police) who are responsible for the enforcement of modest dress code in accordance with Islamic law in the Kingdom.

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First and foremost, for anyone who plans to visit any Muslim country, such as Qatar and other countries in the Middle East, you have to recognize that Islamic laws and Muslim culture are very conservative. This easily translates to the people’s way of thinking, behaviour, and even dressing up in public.

ALSO READ: Qatar Do’s and Don’ts

On that note, we must all learn to respect the locals’ values and culture, so as not to cause any form of misunderstanding, or worse — even, get into trouble with the law. Yes, this could really happen so beware!

[GUIDE] Understanding the Dress Code in Qatar — Credits: Jay Galvin/Flickr

[Culture] Respect the Qatari People’s Dress Code

Figuring out what’s allowed and what isn’t is quite simple, since the government has consciously launched initiatives on a regular basis to help other nationalities and tourists understand the local culture, and also to guide them accordingly.

For a time, the government even had a slogan which said, ‘Reflect your Respect’ in an effort to educate tourists on what types of clothing are allowed and those that are not.

Under the campaign of Qatar’s Islamic Culture Centre, leaflets that share the message: “If you are in Qatar, you are one of us. Help us preserve Qatar’s culture and values; please dress modestly in public places” were distributed to foreigners and tourists to help them become aware of the dress code.

The campaign, which had been launched in 2014, has taken on various forms and approach in instilling the acceptable way of dressing up in the country.

Understanding the Dress Code Based on the Law

Despite being a country of multinational colours, Article 57 of Qatari Law clearly stipulates that compliance with the laws issued by Public Authorities, abiding by the requirements of public order and public decorum, as well as the observance of national traditions and deep-rooted customs are duties of everyone residing in the State of Qatar or entering its territory.

And while some foreigners may view Qatari laws as too stringent, even oppressive to outsiders, it has always been this way since Qataris adhere to the Sharia law, and they do not wish for their children to become exposed to what they consider as immodest clothing.

Figuring out what is acceptable from what is not in terms of clothing is simply a matter of decency (meaning – the lesser skin revealed, the better).

With that, revealing clothes that expose the knees and shoulders such as short dresses, mini-skirts, cropped tops and sleeveless tops are not allowed for women. Also, women should try to avoid wearing tight-hugging clothes (even leggings/“jeggings”), as well as those that cover too little of the legs down to the knees. Needless to say, see-through clothes are out of the question.

On the other hand, men are also prohibited from wearing shorts (knees exposed), as well as vest tops that expose the chest.

If you’d like to avoid receiving unnecessary attention especially from the police, it would be best to comply with the dress code in the country.

To be on the safe side: Wear clothes with decent necklines and regular sleeves. Also, remember to keep your legs and knees covered.

As much as the locals make an effort to be warm and welcoming, tourists and expats are also expected to comply with the host nation’s laws and customs. This is a very important sign of respect, not only to the people but more importantly to their culture.