General Information » Essential Info » Dress

For visitors to the country, lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed for the winter months. Be sure to take some sort of jacket or sweater when visiting hotels or the cinema, as the air conditioning can be pretty fierce.

Although the attitude towards dress is fairly liberal throughout the Emirates, Abu Dhabi is rather more conservative than neighbouring Dubai. There still isn’t much that you can’t wear but, as in all countries, a healthy amount of respect for local customs doesn’t go amiss, especially when shopping or generally sightseeing. Like anywhere in the world, the rural areas have a more conservative attitude than in the cities. Short or tight clothing may be worn, but it will attract attention – most of it unwelcome. For ladies, it is advisable to wear short sleeved rather than sleeveless tops and dresses, especially if travelling alone by local taxi. Malls, health clubs and resort facilities are generally more accepting of what's fashionable, but when visiting government offices its best to cover your shoulders and legs. During the day, as in any place with loads of sun, good quality sunglasses, hats and buckets of sunscreen are needed to avoid the lobster look! It is especially recommended that you dress more conservatively during Ramadan.

In the evenings, the restaurants and clubs usually have a mixture of styles – western, Arabic and Asian – anything goes. Again, ladies are advised to take a shawl or jacket, not only for the journey home, but also because of the cold blasts from the air conditioning.