What to Wear in Dubai

Normal summer clothing in most of the city — dresses, trousers, t-shirts, jeans. Shoulders and knees covered is the comfortable default, and it matters most in Old Dubai, the souks and near mosques. No head covering is required anywhere except inside a mosque.

Yes, in Marina, JBR, Downtown, malls and around hotels — you will see them everywhere. In Old Dubai, Deira and the souks you will feel conspicuous, and near a mosque it is genuinely inappropriate. It is a spectrum, not a single rule.

The UAE government states “Visitors to the UAE should dress modestly, particularly in conservative areas” and that “Clothing should not be transparent, indecently exposing parts of the body”. In practice that means shoulders and knees covered in public places, with beaches and hotel pools being the obvious exception.

No. There is no requirement for visiting women to cover their hair anywhere in Dubai except inside a mosque, where a headscarf is expected and usually lent to you at the door. Dubai is not Saudi Arabia and this is one of the most over-stated myths about the city.

Yes, at the beach and at hotel pools. That is entirely normal. Cover up when you leave the sand or the pool area. Topless sunbathing is a different matter — the government wording is explicit that “Any form of nudity is strictly forbidden; including topless sunbathing”.

Shorts are fine in most of the city, though most local and expat men wear long trousers. Vests and going shirtless are for the beach and pool only. In the evening, many restaurants and rooftop bars refuse shorts, sandals or sportswear after about 7pm, so pack a collared shirt and closed shoes.

Long sleeves, long trousers or a long skirt, and a headscarf for women. Ankles and elbows covered. Most mosques that welcome visitors lend robes at the entrance, so you do not need to buy anything specially.

Closed shoes rather than sandals — summer sand is genuinely too hot and you cannot climb a dune in flip-flops. Long, loose clothing beats shorts for sun and sand. Bring a layer for after sunset, because the desert cools sharply. And do not wear anything you mind getting sandy.

In the desert, yes, particularly November to March — guests are regularly cold at the camp in what felt right at the hotel. Indoors it is cold all year, because the air conditioning is fierce. Bring a layer in every month, including August.

The lightest fabrics you own, loose rather than tight, and covering more skin rather than less — covered skin is genuinely cooler than bare skin in 45°C. And a layer for indoors, because malls, taxis and restaurants run very cold.

Anything transparent or very revealing in public, swimwear away from the beach or pool, and shorts or strappy tops in Old Dubai, the souks or near mosques. Men should not go shirtless outside the beach. Topless sunbathing is forbidden outright.

Usually nothing. Nobody is inspecting hemlines in Dubai Mall, and the scaremongering online is out of proportion to daily reality. What does happen: a mall may show a modest-dress sign, a mosque will lend you a robe rather than admit you, and a restaurant may turn a man away in shorts. The nudity rule is the one to take seriously.

Yes. Cover shoulders and knees everywhere in public, including places you would not bother with the rest of the year. Beaches and hotel pools continue as normal. Far more important than clothing is not eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.

A large light scarf. It covers your shoulders in a souk, becomes a headscarf at a mosque, keeps the sun off in the desert, and works as a blanket against the air conditioning. One item, four problems, no weight.

The UAE government asks visitors to dress modestly, particularly in conservative areas and public places like shopping malls, and states that clothing should not be transparent, indecently expose parts of the body, or display offensive pictures or slogans (u.ae, read 17 August). In practice that means loose garments covering shoulders, arms and legs whenever you are away from a beach or pool. Nobody expects a visitor to wear national dress. The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the old souks all sit under the same expectation, so one light scarf in your bag covers most situations.

Yes, in most tourist areas. Abu Dhabi’s official tourism board lists lightweight trousers, skirts or longer shorts among sensible daytime items (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August), and national guidance only requires that clothing is not transparent or indecently exposing (u.ae, read 17 August). Very short shorts are lawful but, in the same tourism board’s words, short or tight clothing may be worn though it will attract attention, most of it unwelcome. For a mosque, a government office or a traditional market, change into something that covers the knee.

Not in daily life. National guidance says women need not wear traditional Islamic dress except when entering a mosque (u.ae, read 17 August). Inside Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque the Centre’s own rules ask for attire that is loose-fitting to the ankles with sleeves to the wrists, plus full hair coverage, and nothing transparent, tight or revealing (szgmc.gov.ae, read 17 August). Streets, malls, restaurants and beaches carry no hair-covering rule at all. A pashmina folded in your day bag is the simplest way to be ready for either setting.

The mosque publishes its own standard rather than leaving it to guesswork. Women may wear any style provided it is loose to the ankles with wrist-length sleeves and hair fully covered. Men may wear any attire, preferably covering the whole leg, and should avoid transparent, tight or sleeveless shirts. Everyone is asked to skip excessive jewellery, heavy makeup, vibrant colours and clothing with slogans or inappropriate drawings (szgmc.gov.ae, read 17 August). Entry is free with a pre-booked online access pass, so you do not need to buy a tour to get in.

Yes, where swimming actually happens. Abu Dhabi’s tourism board states regular swimwear is acceptable at public and private beaches (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). The national rule sets the boundary: swimwear should not be worn in any area outside the beach, water parks or swimming pools, and any form of nudity, including topless sunbathing, is strictly forbidden (u.ae, read 17 August). So pack a cover-up for the walk back to the hotel, the taxi or a beachfront cafe. Changing at the beach is normal; crossing a mall in swimwear is not.

Loose breathable cotton or linen, long enough to keep sun and sand off, plus closed shoes rather than sandals. Abu Dhabi’s tourism board recommends loose breathable tops, lightweight trousers, a wide-brimmed hat, high-protection sunscreen and sunglasses (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). Bring a light layer for after sunset. Our safaris are private and priced per vehicle, so children add nothing to the fare, but if the cheapest possible shared seat is your only priority, the large booking platforms will usually beat us on headline price and we would rather say so plainly.

Closed trainers you do not mind getting sandy. Flip-flops slide off on a dune face and leave the top of the foot exposed to sun and hot sand, which is why the official packing advice keeps sandals for the beach and comfortable walking shoes or trainers for sightseeing (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). Most guests kick their shoes off at camp anyway, so bring socks you like. If you plan to quad bike, closed shoes are the practical minimum, and helmets are provided and compulsory on our quad rides.

More than most people expect, for two separate reasons. Abu Dhabi’s tourism board says lightweight summer clothing suits most of the year but something slightly warmer is needed in the winter months, and separately advises packing a light jacket, cardigan or shawl for heavily air-conditioned interiors (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). Open desert also loses heat quickly once the sun drops, so a sweater earns its suitcase space on an evening trip. Malls, taxis, cinemas and hotel lobbies stay cold whatever the month outside.

Shorts are fine in tourist districts, and Abu Dhabi’s board lists longer shorts among sensible daytime wear (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). Sleeveless vests are lawful in public but read poorly in malls, souks and government buildings, where national guidance is to cover shoulders, arms and legs (u.ae, read 17 August). At Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque sleeveless shirts are explicitly discouraged and full-length trousers preferred (szgmc.gov.ae, read 17 August). Smarter dining rooms generally expect closed-toe shoes and a collared shirt in the evening.

Dress more conservatively than you otherwise would, which is the official advice for the holy month (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August), layered on top of the standing national guidance to dress modestly in public places and avoid transparent or indecently exposing clothing (u.ae, read 17 August). Covered shoulders and knees, nothing tight or sheer, is the safe reading. Beach and pool rules themselves do not change, but the cover-up matters more on the walk back. Evenings after iftar are lively and dressier, and a light layer handles both the setting and the temperature drop.

Children are treated far more leniently than adults, and we could find no authority publishing a separate child dress rule, so we will not invent one. Practical beats formal: breathable cotton, a wide-brimmed hat, high-protection sunscreen and closed shoes for sand (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). Swimwear stays at the beach, water park or pool exactly as it does for adults (u.ae, read 17 August). On our private desert tours the vehicle price is the same whatever the headcount, so bringing children costs nothing extra. Pack them a full change of clothes.

Normal street clothing is all you need. The Roads and Transport Authority publishes conduct rules rather than a dress code, fining eating or drinking in restricted areas AED 100 and smoking, spitting or littering AED 200, and it runs cabins designated for women and children (rta.ae, read 17 August). The thing to avoid is wet swimwear straight off the sand, since national guidance keeps swimwear to beaches, water parks and pools (u.ae, read 17 August). Silver nol fares run AED 3, 5 or 7.50 depending on zone.

Almost certainly not, and we would rather you did not. Everything the official guidance actually asks for, namely loose breathable tops, lightweight trousers, a scarf, a hat, sunscreen, trainers and a beach cover-up (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August), is probably already in your wardrobe. If something is missing, buying it after you land is quick and cheap. Treat any page selling you a themed desert or Dubai outfit bundle as marketing rather than advice, because sand and sunlight do not respond to brand names.

Not entirely, and it is worth knowing before you pack. National guidance asks visitors to dress modestly and cover shoulders, arms and legs in public places (u.ae, read 17 August), while Abu Dhabi’s tourism board describes local attitudes as fairly liberal and notes that short or tight clothing may be worn, though it will attract unwelcome attention (visitabudhabi.ae, read 17 August). We follow the national wording, because that is the stated expectation while the other describes social reality. For any mosque, follow that mosque’s own published standard instead.