Dubai is a city well known for it’s incredibly hot summer climate, it’s modern architecture and luxury shopping malls. 

What To Wear In Dubai

Dubai is a cosmopolitan city where a majority of the population is made up of expats, most of which are from the western region, so it can be quite confusing as to what you can wear. 

Although the city is filled with many expats and welcomes different cultures and religions, Dubai is a city in the UAE which is an Islamic country. So, traditional clothing is modest for both men and women.

One thing for sure is that locals nowadays love to dress up and look good whenever they’re out in public. They love to show off their designer brands and will always make the effort to look fashionably presentable. The style sense will usually range from classy and elegant to smart casual.

The trick is to dress classy in a modest way.

Depending on what you do and where you go in Dubai, there are some public places that have a strict dress code. 

Key points to note:

• Plunging necklines, bare midriffs and booty shorts are frowned upon.
• Transparent and sheer clothing that will reveal your lingerie must be avoided.
• You can wear off the shoulder/ sleeve-less tops unless a dress code says otherwise.

What To Wear To Public Places In Dubai

For public places like the park, metro, malls or just roaming around.

Women

• Maxi, midi or knee-length dresses and skirts
• Fitted jeans, pants or culottes.
• Nice blouses/ tops or t-shirts
• Short-sleeve, sleeve-less or off the shoulder tops
• Jumpsuits, rompers or playsuits
• Shawls or scarfs
• Thin jackets, cardigans or kimonos 

Note that some public places such as some shopping malls have a strict dress code where you will need to cover up a bit more (your shoulders). That’s why it’s always handy to bring along a shawl or light jacket whenever you roam in Dubai.

Men

• Fitted jeans/pants.
• T-shirts, polo shirts or vests
• Shorts (but not short shorts)

What To Wear To Fancy Restaurants In Dubai

You definitely have to bring some formal clothes and shoes if you plan to go to restaurants and bars in Dubai. Most nice restaurants have a semi-formal or formal dress code that do not permit trainers!

You can wear anything that looks elegant and classy, so long as it’s not too revealing.

Ladies should still keep outfits looking modest and bring along a shawl or jacket to cover up going to and from the restaurant or bar.

Men should wear polo-shirts and nice pants, with fancy shoes.

What To Wear When Visiting A Mosque In Dubai

When visiting mosques or traditional markets like Spice Souk or Gold Souk, it’s important that both men and women are fully covered and not wearing tight-fitted clothing. 

Women

• Maxi dresses or skirts
• Pants or trousers
• long sleeve tops/cardigans
• Shawls or scarfs to put over the head

Men

• Jeans or pants
• Long sleeved tops

What To Wear To The Beach In Dubai

Ladies can wear bikinis and swimwear to the beach or swimming pool, as long as it’s not too skimpy. Bikinis or swimsuits that have thongs are highly inappropriate. Men can wear swimming shorts with a vest or t-shirt, but must avoid being topless.

What To Wear For Nightclubs In Dubai

Dressing for nightclubs in Dubai is pretty much the same for any other city, as most of these nightclubs are international. So you can pretty much wear what you want. The only thing they will be strict about is what shoes you wear, so be sure to pack some heels or dress shoes.

If you’re planning to visit Dubai and want a convenient laundry service, Laundryheap will happily collect, clean and deliver your clothes within 24 hours to your hotel. It is also a great way to outsource your laundry if you live in Dubai.