My husband and I have just moved here, and I’m fascinated by the national dress (abayas?); I was wondering if I was allowed to wear that as a European, or is it reserved for Emirati women?
While we’ve seen women wear things that would make us blush in any country, in general the dress code in the capital is a bit more conservative than our neighbour’s – so if you’re ever feeling uncomfortable in anything you’re wearing, you might as well err on the side of modest. Plenty of expat women wear abayas, as far as we know, and often receive positive feedback from their Emirati friends.
Abayas have steadily risen in popularity with the expat community due to their practicality. Women who want to wear gym clothing on the way to a workout but don’t want to walk the streets in skimpy shorts often throw on an abaya, similarly for mums who needs to drop their kids off at school and maybe pick up a few things, but plan on coming back home right after, so find the trip not worth changing for.
The fact that abayas come in so many styles, cuts and colourful designs, has made them pretty fashionable, and, while the practicality is what draws everyone in, plenty of our friends have just started to prefer the style. Abayas are slimming and elegant, and some of the designer pieces have embroidery that’ll make your head spin.
To the untrained eye, all abayas might look similar, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of styles, neck-cuts and silhouettes – shaped like everything from a bell to a butterfly. Sleeves can be long or short, wide or tight-fitting, and embroidery can be simple or extravagant. The abaya can be worn open (to show your gown for instance) or closed; and the list goes on. Abayas created for special occasions are especially intricate, but often require a lot of dedicated tailoring (and a great tailor) and cost a pretty penny.
It’s a bit more tricky with shaylas (head scarves); while we do know a few women who wear them because they just like to – and religious places require all women who enter to wear a scarf – they’re usually worn out of respect for their religion and not as a fashion statement. That being said, if you feel you’d like to cover your hair for any reason then no one’s going to walk up to you and take issue with it, so the best advice we can give you is this: if you are wearing a shayla, keep in mind that you’re dressed in a way the Emiratis hold dear, and you ought to conduct yourself accordingly. Good luck with your new wardrobe!
