FAQ: What should I wear when visiting Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi is generally conservative but tolerant when it comes to dress code. The attitude to dress is relaxed, but visitors (both men and women) are advised not to wear excessively revealing clothing in public places, as a sign of respect for local culture and customs. As for the weather requirements, lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year (summer, spring and autumn), though a light sweater or cardigan could be handy when visiting a shopping mall, hotel or restaurant where the temperature might be kept too low to counter the outdoor heat. Slightly warm clothes are needed for the short winter season, especially in the evening. Outside of hotels, beaches, and nightclubs, conservative dress is appreciated, especially during Ramadan.

Casual Dress
Women will feel more at easy if they cover their shoulders and knees when in public places. It is better to cover knees and shoulders and everything in between. For example, t-shirts are fine but strappy tops for women might be frowned upon in more public areas (and on men will probably get you arrested).

Skirt length below or too the knee is fine. As skirts get shorter, the potential to cause offence increases. If short enough to reveal underwear (or that no underwear is being worn), the risk of male attention, police attention, arrest and fine increases.

Don't wear anything that might be regarded as offensive. For example tee shirts with offensive slogans or pictures, obscene language or gestures, anything that might cause religious or cultural offence, etc. If you have to ask whether it's acceptable or not, assume it isn't.

Business/Work
In business it's always better to be conservative. Thus, business women should wear a pantsuit or a dress that covers elbows and knees. Women should make an effort not to wear too figure hugging clothes and to cover up their flesh, until they are able to figure out what is acceptable in the workplace. A shirt and trousers or long skirt would be fine. For men, this means wearing a suit, although in some office environments a shirt and trousers will suffice. It is recommended that men wear a suit and a tie to business meetings.

Official/Formal Events
Unless otherwise indicated, official events usually require non-locals to wear formal dress; a suit and tie for men and an evening dress for women

Men should not wear women's clothing, being arrested is quite likely. Wearing a Scottish kilt however is probably acceptable on special occasions. It would probably be wise not to wear one as everyday clothing to work, to a shopping center, a walk around the block.

Night Clubs
Most nightclubs require their guests not to wear shorts, caps or sport shoes on their premises.

Shopping Malls
In the malls, many wear jeans and tee-shirts or the like. Heat is a big issue so dress in light clothes with this in mind. However, remember that everywhere is air conditioned, so while you may have to bear the heat for a few minutes, the air conditioning can cause problems. The malls in the heat of summer are particularly cold, and women should take a shawl or equivalent when going to the cinema.

Publice Beaches
While visiting public beaches swimmers should avoid excessively revealing swimming suits. At the beach and swimming pools (hotel or private), wear what you like as long as breasts (for women), genital area, and bum is covered. Bikinis are fine, topless is not, thongs are not. Also unacceptable is wearing see-through swimsuits and/or underwear. If going from beach to a more public area such as a shopping mall, cover up, at least between knees and shoulders

Mosques
Women do not have to cover their hair, faces, heads with a scarf or similar in public. Some Muslim women do cover their hair and/or face, especially Gulf Arabs, but that is because of cultural and religious reasons, not because UAE law requires them to. However, when visiting a mosque, females do have to cover their hair, but it's not necessary for the face to be covered.

Sports Attire
Men wearing normal shorts might attract attention and strange looks/stares in some places but are unlikely to get into trouble. Ideally, shorts should be down to the knee to be sure of causing no offence. Very short shorts, cycling shorts that reveal certain contours, boxer shorts, etc are possibly going to result in a warning from the authorities. Cycling while wearing cycling shorts should be fine.

Sports clothing appropriate to the sport being played is fine at the sports venue. And combinations like shorts and tee-shirts are not likely to be a problem if worn elsewhere on the way to or from the sports location.

Young children can wear what they like for the most part but don't have them running around naked in public. Teenage girls and boys should be more circumspect with what they wear.