Etiquette in United Arab Emirates

In general, dressing conservatively for a business meeting is the norm – business suits being the obvious solution. As a tourist, you should make an effort to dress moderately.  Men and women should wear very non-revealing clothes (covering shoulders, arms and legs, and closed-toe shoes) to avoid offending locals.

Men should avoid walking around topless, and wearing sleeveless t-shirts and shorts. Men should keep shoulders and backs covered up, and consider wearing long cotton trousers even though the climate is generally hot and dry. Loose-fitting T-shirts and short or long sleeve shirts are also generally acceptable.

For women, the proper etiquette is to cover up as much as you can.  It is best to at least cover your shoulders and the tops of your arms. Women should avoid skirts or low-cut tops. In public places loose-fitting trousers or a long skirt are also acceptable.

If you intend on visiting a mosque in the United Arab Emirates, women should dress very modestly, taking care to cover their heads, arms and legs. Men wearing shorts will likely not be permitted to enter a mosque, so be sure to wear trousers. You should also remove your shoes before you enter the mosque – not doing so would be regarded as extremely rude. When visiting religious sites, women must also cover their hair.