A lot of women are afraid to travel to some countries in the Middle East, because they are not sure about what to wear and how they will be treated by the locals while they are there. We also had this concern, especially regarding the dress code. So after we researched the subject, we realized that as long as you are respectful of local cultures, customs and dress code, many destinations are absolutely safe for female travelers.
Let’s concentrate on the dress code. The first thing to remember is that Saudi Arabia employs one of the strictest interpretations of Sharia Law, and so are countries like Iran, Yemen and Kuwait. Here you should be completely covered from head to toe, except for your face and hands.
In case you are traveling to more tolerant areas of the Middle East, such as UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan etc., the general rule is to dress modestly. Avoid tight or revealing clothes, short skirts or shorts, see-through clothes and tank tops.
What should you wear while traveling in the Middle East:
– skirts below the knee
– loose trousers
– shirts with sleeves to elbow
– loose tunic
– headscarf
– long dress
– shoes/sandals
A scarf always comes in handy on the odd occasions or when you are visiting a mosque. Also, if you have blond hair consider covering your head with a scarf or a hat, to avoid men approaching you.
One more useful accessory to have when traveling in the Middle East is a (fake) wedding ring. Being seen as married will help to lower your profile and scare off locals admirers.
Here are a few looks that we believe would help you get the idea of how you should dress while in the Middle East.
Nice idea with the ring! 🙂 I personally like the third set with the handbag from the second set 🙂
Thank you for your comment Jane!
I also found Julia’s idea about the ring very interesting!;)