What can I wear in the middle east? (female)?

Question

I've asked this question before, but didn't get many responses. If you could help I'd appreciate it.

I am possibly traveling to Qatar and also the UAE with my boyfriend in December. Probably Dubai and Abu Dhabi (sorry if I misspelled that.) The majority of the time will be spent in Qatar.

I know nothing about what is appropriate for females to wear. Can I wear shorts and tank tops, or do I have to be completely covered up? Do I have to wear a scarf?

Thanks ahead of time for the info.

Answer 1

I went to Zanzibar Island off of Tanzania which is 98% Muslim and we were warned to cover up.  Well most of us did including me (jeans/shirt/sweater-jacket), but a couple of girls wore normal stuff.. reasonable mid-thigh shorts and a short sleeve shirt. Nothing happened. No one was stared down. I think where you might run into a problem is wearing low-cut stuff. You definitely wouldn't want any cleavage showing, and something like capris would be just fine (if its hot, which apparently it won't be). I don't think a scarf is necessary.

Answer 2

Hi,

I answered your question before. You ask the same thing now for the third time and all answers are more or less the same.

You can wear what ever you want to. If you respect yourself and the Muslim society you would wear beach wear at the beach and be dressed moderatly while visiting other places.

You do not have to cover up etc. Also when you wear a mini skirt, shorts and tank top nobody will say anything, but please do not complain about men starring at you afterwards.

You are comming in the winter time. Like I said before, it will be to cold for shorts and tank tops anyway.

Please don't worry and have a good time.

Answer 3

You would do well to check with your travel agent before you leave.See if they can give you some written guidelines on approriate dressing for your destinations

If you are staying in western style hotels then your freedom to dress in the restaurants and gyms etc will be pretty much as it is at home. However you need to be aware that in many middle eastern countries the dress laws are written into Sharia Law and taken very seriously. Of course you cannot wear tank tops and shorts in the street. Just as it would be considered inappropriate for an African tribal woman who doily exposes her b*****s in her own village to walk down 42nd St in the same outfit. Americans have a terrible reputation in many parts of the world and some of it is because of thoughtless and ridiculous mistakes like your shorts and tank top one. Just stop and think for a moment about what might be  polite and do that.