As women tourists, it is not compulsory or required for women to wear hijab, burqa, or any traditional attire of Dubai. What can women wear in public in Dubai? Women tourists can wear anything they like in Dubai as long as it covers their shoulders and knees. You just have to be respectful to their culture.
The general rule regarding dressing in public in Dubai is to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and your knees. It's best to refrain from wearing clothing that is too tight or too revealing for both men and women. It's a good idea to carry a light sweater or shawl with you when going out into public places.
The dress code in Dubai is quite liberal. Usually, you can wear pretty much what you like, certainly in tourist places and hotels and their adjacent beaches.
Women can wear any tops, jeans, pants, dresses, skirts, shorts, and casual shoes like sandals or trainers. No flip flops or bikinis. Men can wear any shirts, t-shirts, jeans, pants, shorts, and casual shoes such as trainers. No flip flops or singlets.
Female travelers do not have to cover up completely when in Dubai – shorts, tops, and bikinis are fine (well, the latter only at the beach though). What is this? While some places have a dress code (no bare shoulders at most malls, and no hot pants).
Anything too short or revealing is not accepted. What to wear in Dubai during summer? Tourists can wear anything they wish as long as they abide by the general dress code of covering the shoulders and knees. Since it is very hot, cotton, linen, or breathable material is preferred for clothes.
Women can wear a maxi dress with sleeves, or a top or shirt with a long skirt, pants or jeans that aren't ripped. Men can wear a shirt or collared t-shirt with jeans or trousers (no shorts or ripped jeans).
Clubbing in Dubai: no hijab required!
Crop-tops, skirts, form-fitting dresses are all acceptable in Dubai nightclubs.
(Source) It is perfectly fine for women to wear short-sleeved, sleeveless or off the shoulder tops and dresses in Dubai. However, it is ideal to wear clothes that will help blend in, so you should avoid wearing revealing clothes in specific places which might be frowned upon or considered inappropriate.
Dress code
Clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs, and underwear should not be visible. Swimming attire should be worn only on beaches or at swimming pools. Cross-dressing is illegal.
Showing cleavage is somewhat frowned upon, and it's also best to avoid wearing any tops that show your underwear underneath. Instead, go for t-shirts and tops that cover your upper arms – strappy tops and those that show off your midriff are considered offensive.
In Dubai, holding hands, hugging, and kissing in public is considered socially unacceptable and if caught indulging in such acts, you might land up in jail. Many foreigners have already suffered the consequences. Do not join the bandwagon. This is considered one of the most important things not to do in Dubai.
Though the United Arab Emirates is clearly Islamic, (foreign) women do not have to cover up and can wear more or less those clothes they feel comfortable in – to a certain extent. So, no need to wear a headscarf/cover your hair (except for a few places I mention later).
What happens if you dress inappropriately in Dubai? Residents and tourists who dress "inappropriately" in public places can face up to three years jail time and deportation for "harming the country's public morals", legal experts have warned.
Both men and women will be required to have their arms covered to the wrists and legs covered to the ankles.
There are no fixed rules regarding wearing shorts. When it comes to wearing shorts in Dubai, even in case of tourists, remember that thigh grazing shorts, hot shorts, booty shorts and mini-skirts that barely cover may not be a good choice in Dubai, unless you are wearing them at a beach.
Women dress code in Dubai
Wearing what you want has never been more fashionable than when visiting Dubai! Short sleeves, strapless, and off the shoulder are all acceptable styles for women to wear there.
I'd say that the average cost of a trip to Dubai, for a week, per person, ranges between £600 – 900 (US$787 – 1,180) for budget travellers. For a mid-range budget, expect to spend around £1,200 – 1,800 (US$1,575 – 2,360), and for a luxury holiday anything from £3,500 (US$4,590) upwards.
Swearing on WhatsApp
Swearing is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine as high as 10,000 dirhams (£2,157). Flashing your middle finger, which is considered an “indecent gesture” that breaches “a victim's pride, privacy and/or modesty”, will result in deportation.
What are the laws on tattoos in the UAE? The United Arab Emirates does not have any explicit laws on tattoos. As a result, those who want to get tattooed in the UAE are free to do so.
Do not swear in public or use offensive gestures. Giving someone the finger or even just sticking out your tongue might be considered rude at home but can get you jailed in Dubai. This is particularly worth remembering when driving, since even a frustrated flap of the hands could potentially land you in trouble.
Paracetamol is not featured on the MoH's list of controlled drugs4, so you should be able to take it into Dubai. However, if you are ever unsure then check with your doctor. Codeine is a controlled drug in the UAE, so you will need permission to take co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine) into the country.