Sarah
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Are you planning to go to Dubai soon and are you wondering what to wear in Dubai as a woman? Don’t worry, I’ll show you all you need to know about the “Dubai dress code”!
The first outfit question most people ask me when I tell them that I spent six weeks in Dubai during Ramadan in 2019 is “Did you have to wear an Abaya then?”.
And the clear answer to this is: No. You don’t need to wear either an Abaya (a loose black dress) OR a Hijab (a headscarf) in Dubai. Neither as a woman living in Dubai nor as a tourist. (That’s Saudi Arabia with these rules.)
BUT. That does not mean you can wear ANYTHING to Dubai. Or at least, you should not.
I’ll show you good examples of what to wear in Dubai and whatnot – at the beach, the mall or to the nightclub. 🙂
Table of Contents
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The “Dubai Dress Code” in general
While Dubai is nowhere as strict as some other Islamic countries, it is still expected for women (and men!) to dress modestly. Thus, super short skirts or trousers, a big cleavage or a crop top is not exactly Dubai dress code.
Even though you won’t be arrested (unless you are wearing a bikini to the mall…), it is just polite to show respect for the country you are visiting – try to cover your knees and chest.
Shoulders are a bit of a discussion topic whether they should be dressed or not for modesty. If you feel too hot, this is the “first part” I would “reveal” and ignore.
Some people will also tell you that tight clothing is not fine for Dubai – but I have seen a lot of Expat and Arab women in Dubai with skin-tight jeans and very contoured dresses, skirts and shirts. However, loose clothing might actually be much more comfortable when it gets hot in Dubai!
What to wear in Dubai at the beach
Generally speaking, you can wear what you would normally wear to a beach. If it’s a bathing suit or a bikini, both are fine when thinking about what to wear in Dubai at the beach.
If you are at your hotel’s beach or in one of Dubai’s beach clubs, you can definitely wear a tiny bikini as well – I have even seen plenty of thongs there. In fact, I felt that my own bikini is covering my butt more than most other girls 😀
Also read: Ladies days in Dubai – Pool access and beach clubs for free!
Should you go to one of the (amazing!) public beaches in Dubai, it might be a good idea to either take a swimsuit or a modest bikini. Just step back a little from tanning every inch of your body. (And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!)
Oh, and bring a beach cover if you want to be stylish. It’s less for modesty – but for fashion. EVERYONE at the beach clubs in Dubai was wearing a (very revealing) beach cover-up at the beach clubs!
Click on any of these pictures to see the item on Amazon.com directly!
What to wear in Dubai at the mall
Mall of the Emirates and Dubai mall are some of the “must-see places in Dubai”. The Dubai dress code here is actually stricter than on the street.
Read: The ultimate list of things to do in Dubai
The main reason is that shopping is the main hobby of conservative women in Dubai. In fact, malls are the places where you will see a higher concentration of burkas then anywhere else.
Make sure to be “a good tourist” and cover up when going to the mall. Make sure to cover knees, midriff, and shoulder – you won’t be sweating thanks to the AC there. (Actually, the temperatures in the mall made me wonder how someone could even think about wearing short stuff here!)
A quick way to do this is by always having a light cardigan, bolero or a shawl in your handbag!
Click on any of these pictures to see the item on Amazon.com directly!
What to wear in Dubai when visiting a mosque
Most mosques in Dubai are not open to the public. However, there is one mosque that is open to tourists in Dubai: Jumeirah Mosque. They also have a lovely tour and an education center – you should definitely not miss this!
So, when thinking about how to dress in Dubai for a visit to the mosque, then think of a maxi skirt, long arms, no cleavage at all and a headscarf. Don’t worry though, if you didn’t come properly dressed, you can rent clothing for free at Jumeirah mosque entrance!
And if you are going to Sheik Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (it is only a short bus ride to Abu Dhabi from Dubai!), then you can rent an Abaya at the mosque anyway for free (btw, they have three colors: wine red, rose and blue)!
What to wear in Dubai for a night out
Dubai is quite a party city! In fact, the city is bustling with chic bars and wild night clubs. Regarding the dress code in Dubai for the night, it’s basically “dress to impress”.
No one really cares for modesty anymore when it comes to going out. Generally speaking, tighter dresses are accepted at night, giving you the option of choosing a body-con dress too. Just make sure it’s not short on top!
Click on any of these pictures to see the item on Amazon.com directly!
The most important items now are high heels – the higher, the better! Just go for bold, glitter here – maybe even platform heels! Flip Flops are very thrown upon – unless you are at a beach club…
I am a huge fan of Michael Kors when it comes to heels (funny enough, I don’t own a single Michael Kors handbag though!) – and I think they are just perfect for Dubai style!
Click on any of these pictures to see the item on Amazon.com directly!
The nice thing about Dubai is that it is really safe for women. I never felt comfortable walking around alone at night here!
In fact, I think Dubai is one of the best places to go with your group of girls! (And that’s not only because of the amazing free offers for girls!). Tuesday nights are especially infamous – you should definitely plan to go out while being in Dubai!
Read: Tuesday ladies nights in Dubai – itineraries for different parts of the city!
So pack your fancy dress and get those heels out!
What to wear for a desert safari in Dubai
If you are going on a desert safari in Dubai (and you totally should!), you should think practical. You might ride a camel and/or run down sand dunes.
Thus, a skirt or a dress could be less perfect (although, I went with a maxi dress and that was just fine!) – think about getting a harem or yoga pants for that!
Click on any of these pictures to see the item on Amazon.com directly!
If your tour includes dinner and it is shoulder season, think about the temperature. The temperature in the desert drops at night – thus, it can even make sense to pack a thin cardigan or a long sleeve!
Outfit shopping guide for Dubai
In order to make it easier for you to find clothes that suit the Dubai dress code, I created an outfit inspirations list on Amazon.com. You can simply click on each of the pictures in this list and it will take you to an inexpensive and top-rated clothing item on Amazon.com!
You can also find my “what to wear in Dubai” list on my Amazon Influencer Storefront!
Casual dresses for Dubai
Now that we have looked at the “rules” on “how to dress in Dubai”, it’s time to show you some beautiful dresses for Dubai! I found all of these midi/maxi dresses on Amazon.com – and they are all very affordable!
Just click on any of these dresses to check them on Amazon.com straight away!
Casual skirts to wear in Dubai
It goes without saying that skirts should be modest too. When deciding what to wear in Dubai, look out for midi or maxi skirts. Amazon has plenty of these as well!
Just click on any of these skirts to check them on Amazon.com straight away!
Casual tops and blouses to wear in Dubai
If you are looking for modest tops to match with your skirt when dressing for Dubai, think about choosing chiffon a lot. It is lightweight (great for the temperatures) and has a classy style to it without “revealing too much”. Plus, it is really flattering for all body types!
Just click on any of these tops or blouses to check them on Amazon.com straight away!
Stylish sunhats and sunglasses
The sun is pretty strong in summer months in Dubai – and thus, you should absolutely bring a sunhat and some sunglasses! Plus, these just look classy with any Dubai outfit!
Just click on any of these hats or sunglasses to check them on Amazon.com straight away!
Other things to consider when choosing your outfits for Dubai
Apart from the “Dubai dress code” there are a number of other things to consider when thinking about what to wear in Dubai!
The Season/the weather
Yes, there is a winter in Dubai today! And while temperatures usually stay mild (~15°C) during the winter (November to February), it might still be a bit chilly if you are just wearing a thin summer dress.
Consider bringing a loose cardigan or a very thin jacket with you when packing for Dubai!
The obnoxious Air conditioning
As mentioned above at “what to wear in Dubai at the mall”, Dubai seems to love air conditioning everything down to a level where you wonder if you should have brought your ski jacket.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit overexaggerated – but the AC can definitely make you freeze if you don’t have a lightweight cardigan or something similar to you.
“What to wear in Dubai” FAQs
Since there are a few questions that I have seen particularly often about tourist dress codes for Dubai, I decided to collect the answers another time in this FAQ about what to wear in Dubai.
Can you wear a bikini in Dubai?
Yes, as long as you are at the beach. There is no problem in wearing even the tiniest bikini as long as you are at the hotel beach or a beach club.
If you are going for the public beaches in Dubai, consider wearing a bathing suit instead. However, wearing a bikini is widely accepted at “western-oriented” beaches such as “La Mer Dubai”
Also read: Your guide to public beaches in Dubai!
Can you wear shorts in Dubai?
Well, as long as you are in your hotel or resort in Dubai, yes. Otherwise, wearing shorts as a woman is not really considered being the “Dubai dress code”. If the shorts are knee-length, you should be fine – otherwise, I would personally recommend you to wear either a skirt or a dress for Dubai.
If you absolutely prefer to wear trousers, then you should either opt for long jeans (hot!) or have a look at the harems pants I showed above for what to wear for a desert safari in Dubai!
Are many women wearing a hijab in Dubai?
No, not even during Ramadan. It is neither expected nor common to see women wearing a hijab in Dubai. In fact, I felt that I saw fewer headscarves or hijabs in Dubai than in Berlin!
The only place where you should wear a headscarf is when visiting a mosque. Most mosques in Dubai are not open to tourists though – with Jumeirah mosque being an exception.
How did you like this outfit guide?
I hope this outfit guide for Dubai was helpful for you in order to choose how to dress for your trip to Dubai! I really enjoyed my time in Dubai and I am sure you will love it too!
Please let me know in the comments what you think about this style guide! Are you missing something or do you have any suggestions? I am always happy to improve my guide articles and I frequently update them! 🙂
