- Ask a Local
- Locals have answered 146 questions about Dubai.
- Ask Dubai Locals
More Top 10 Lists
- Boutique Hotels
- Cheap Accommodations
- Family Friendly Accommodations
- Luxury Hotels
- Apartments and Condos
- Brand Name Hotels
- Business Hotels
- Five Star Hotels
- Trendy Hotels
- Hotels
- Hotels Near Burj Khalifa
- Hotels Near Downtown
- Hotels Near Dubai International Airport
- Hotels Near Satwa
- Even more lists
- Top Categories
- Explore Dubai travel or check out Tours, Chinese Food, Music in Dubai, and more on NileGuide.
The Question
Public Question Asked by nneka egondu ibekwe about Dubai
you know my question is really about the culture there,i have been to tabuk saudi arabia and we females were forced to wear a black cloth called abaya over our normal clothing when going out in public,and even tie scarfs over our hair ,they did not care that we were tourists and not moslem,i wonder if dubai is like tabuk in this respect?do female non moslem tourists in dubai have to dress this way in public?i want to know because i would never go there if it is like that in dubai too.i am a christian and was quite unhappy about this as i felt i was being oppressed and my fundamental human right was being taken away ,i felt abused.I was under the impression that dubai is more open and civilised?am i right about this?
Answers (13)
The Best Answer
Answered by Jean Yrem , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
hi there,
Dubai is civilised city, today is very different from what it used to be a decade or two ago. I am expat here for more than 10 yrs, abide the law with respect and you are free.you can wear whatever you want here...shorts, sleeveless - fashionistas as we are ;p (but not so daring pls.) in Ramadan time (Aug - Sept. 2010) be aware that no eating and drinking outside from 5am til 5pm depends what time is the prayer to break the fast.
here are some tips as well:-
Other Dos and Don’ts
You should also heed the following warnings:
•Don’t offer alcoholic drinks to an Arab, unless you’re certain that he drinks alcohol. This can cause great offence.
•Don’t walk on a prayer mat or in front of any person at prayer and try not to stare at people who are praying.
•Don’t try to enter a mosque without first asking permission. It’s unlikely that you will be allowed in.
•In Saudi Arabia, don’t try to enter the Holy sites of the areas surrounding Mecca and Medina. The roads are well signposted to notify everybody of this restriction. If a non-Muslim is found within the prohibited areas, he’s likely to be assaulted and will be afforded no protection against the assailants.
•Avoid blasphemy, particularly in the presence of Muslims and particularly in Saudi Arabia. Remember that there are many non-Gulf Arabs working in Dubai, who aren’t always as relaxed or tolerant as locals are.
•Avoid putting an Arab in a position where he might suffer a ‘loss of face’ in front of other Arabs. He will appreciate this, if he notices your action.
•Don’t beckon to people with a finger, as this is considered particularly impolite. Arabs might use such a gesture to summon a dog.
•Avoid shouting and displays of aggression or drunkenness at all times, as such behaviour is rarely tolerated.
•During Ramadan, don’t eat, drink or smoke anywhere where you can be seen by Muslims during the hours of daylight and don’t engage in any noisy behaviour or embrace or kiss anyone in public.
Greetings:
The most common greeting in the Gulf is Salam alaykum (‘Peace be upon you’), to which the correct reply is Wa alaykum as-salam (‘And upon you be peace’). Other common greetings and the accepted replies are:
Greeting
Meaning
Reply
Ahlan wa sahlan
Hello
Ahlan bik
Sabah al-khayr
Good morning/afternoon
Sabah an-nur
Masa al-khayr
Good evening
Masa an-nur
any doubt just email me for more info.
welcome to Dubai...
Answered by KAMAL MANGLA , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
hi nneka egondu ibekw
Yes, you are right. Dubai and KSA are two places with just opposite cultures. Dubai is more cosmopolitan, more open, more open civilization. You can really have a good time being here.
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
ok
Answered by Ajit Bubber , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
dont worry Dubai is very liberal...just dont expose too much and you are fine!!
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
thanks
Answered by malik , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
in dubai there is no problem about wearing,,u can wear anything what u want and wat u like,,
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
that is what i was told,well thanks
Answered by AlJabry-Points2Deliver , Dubayy, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is different; and in UAE in general. I would like to point out the reply from our fellow localyte Abdessalem krifa, that "you can wear what ever you want". Thats not true.
Clothes to wear must be decent not in appropriate, after all this is still Muslim City in a Muslim Country although not strict as in Saudi Arabia.
You can find clearly indicated in some major shopping malls and some department stores in the city that, "wear decent clothes, no pets allowed, no smoking and no close affection".
When you visit such as Jumeirah Moosque or The grand Mosque - Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi; yes Abaya must be put on for no muslim women with decent clothing too. But not when your in the city and most places.
Hope you will enjoy this Multicultural City of Dubai.
Regards,
Hasan Al Jabri
www.dubai-travel-uae-guide.com
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
well it seems dubai is not like tabuk but i do not think i will come,sounds scary,im not a muslim ,im a christian and i like going to church,i know i will find no churches in dubai.i like your honesty,it is good to be wise when traveling to avoid trouble. i would never go near a mosque,there are mosques here in nigeria,i have never gone there.
Answered by Nina , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hi Nneka! Dubai is a pretty open city because of the massive number of expatriates here. You are not expected to wear an abaya here, it might even be taken as disrespect if you do because you're not a Muslim.
Sleeveless, Shorts, Jeans, Skirst etc are most welcome. Given the humidity right now, wear cotton fabrics.
Like in any other places, there are appropriate clothes for certain places. You're not expected to be wearing swimsuits in the mall, at the same time, you're not expected to wear long sleeves at the beach :)
Guess the whole concept of logic and respect of other's culture will serve you well in this place.
Yes, this is an open city but let's not push it. Bear in mind that we still have conservative people around and this is their country and so we should at least try to not offend them. :)
Hope this helps.
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
i would never travel to a place like tabuk again,not nice at all,i am not a muslim and it was unfair to be forced to dress in that way,especially as i was only visiting and i was just a teenager,now im a woman,35 i realise the seriousness of what happened to me in tabuk saudi arabia,anyway thanks for your answer
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
well thanks,there are lots and lots of expartriates in tabuk saudi arabia too,i went there to visit a relative that was working there,most of their workers are expatriates,americans,indians,nigerians,philipinos,and people from all over the world,and yet the females were forced to dress like muslims in public although they were clearly not muslims and were not saudi arabians,and women could not drive! i would never travel to a place like tabuk again,not nice at all,i am not a muslim and it was unfair to be forced to dress in that way,especially as i was only visiting and i was just a teenager,now im a woman,35 i realise the seriousness of what happened to me in tabuk saudi arabia,anyway thanks for your answer Submit Report or Cancel
Answered by Zaheed , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dear nneka,
Please be informed that Saudi Arabia has Islamic sharia Law which restricts women to be in public without cover or Burqa or Abaya. Whereas UAE is open countries due to presence of its 70 - 80% of expatrites living here since 3 - 4 decades.
But still in Dubai it is advisable to wear something whihc is not too revealing in order to avoid some unneccesarry attraction. I have been to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, whihc is western province near to Egyptian side of Red Sea. There is really much difference in cultures and human rights. Hope you will enjoy Dubai. Trust me "Seeing is Believing".
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
ok thank you,i do not dress in revealing clothes when i m not alone or in public anywhere so why would i in dubai?
Answered by EKene , Lagos, Nigeria
Dubai is not that civilized,but it's a trade center or an open market. It's a new world trade.
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
ok thanks. have you been there,do you know if women are allowed to driev there?in tabuk saudi arabia women are not allowed to drive and are forced to wear a black cloth called abaya over their regular clothes, even non muslims ,vistiors and tourists and expatriates.i wondered if it was so too in dubai?i was told in UAE they were more civilised.
Answered by Noura , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hi Nneka,
The clothes here is very relaxed. Pretty much like what you can wear in New York for example BUT nothing too revealing which means, very low cut blouse, very short skirt or your stomach showing. Modesty is encouraged and tolerated...so sleevles shirts, shorts and bikinis on the beach are completely fine! :)
You've got nothing to worry about....pack those flipflops, bikinis and light clothes to wear for the summer, the humidity at the moment is very high at 90%!
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
well thanks
Answered by Abdessalem krifa , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
no need here abaya , you can wear what ever you want
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
ok
Answered by nneka egondu ibekwe , Enugu, Nigeria
After that unpleasant experience I was glad to be living in a civilised country like Nigeria.Thanks for your answers,i get that Dubai is more civilised than Tabuk Saudi arabia were women cannot drive,or wear regular clothes in public and are forced to dress in a terrible balck clothe in the heat.I ceratainly would never travel to any place where such a thing could happen to me again.
Answered by dulce , Deira, United Arab Emirates
hello my sister,
Dubai is an open city..compare to other GCC countries,Dubai is the best place where tourist preferred to visit because of it's culture. No one will force you to wear abaya's and hijab. (Even some Saudian ladies does not even where those while going to the mall). They can express themselves whilst here in Dubai. Of course there are some limitations on it. As long as you are not putting harm to other person, you can enjoy life here.
Answered by Jason , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
no your not force to abaya. this is an open country except that If you are going to visit their mosque.
Comment by nneka egondu ibekwe from Enugu, Nigeria
wow lots of advice,please do not worry,i will not be coming to dubai,but thanks for your answer,God bless you
Jun 11, 2010