what not to wear when visiting Muslim countries

Women in Dubai CREDIT: 2009 AFP/KARIM SAHIB

•  Soo Kim, travel writer 

4 APRIL 2016 • 2:15PM

Air France stewardesses were last week told to wear headscarves upon arrival in Tehran when the airline resumes services there later this month. The order sparked outrage among female cabin crew members, some of whom say they will refuse to fly to the Iranian capital.

Here we explain the dress code guidelines for visitors to Iran, and other popular Muslim tourist destinations. 

The Foreign Office (FCO) advises that travellers to Islamic countries should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and should be aware of their actions to ensure they don’t offend locals, especially during the holy month of Ramadan (which takes place between June 6 and July 5 this year) and when visiting religious places.

Iran

The current Foreign Office advice for travel to Iran outlines that Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced. In any public place women must cover their heads with a headscarf, wear trousers (or a floor length skirt), and a long-sleeved tunic or coat that reaches to mid-thigh or knee. Men should wear long trousers and long-sleeve shirts.

There are additional dress requirements at certain religious sites. Women may be asked to put on a chador (a garment that covers the whole body except the face) before entering, it adds.

According to the dress code advice section of the website Iranvisa.com, said to be authorised by the Iranian national tourist board and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Islamic dress codes are necessary in the country, “these rules are not observed very strict [sic], especially for tourists and foreigners” and should women forget to wear a hijab (headscarf), “the maximum penalty will be a request (usually in a kind way) to make it correct”.

The Azadi Tower in Tehran

The website also adds that women’s arms should not be left bare and their legs should be covered down to the ankles, though feet can be bare and sandals are permitted. While women's bodies “should be covered with loose clothes like [a] man shirt, coat or manteau”, “tight jeans are no problem”.

T-shirts are also acceptable for men, but shorts should not be worn in public places, according to the website.

Morocco

While Morocco may be more relaxed about dress codes than other Muslim countries, women, especially when travelling alone, may attract unwanted attention. To minimise hassle, you should dress modestly, the FCO warns. 

“After nightly antics in the Djemaa el-Fna for 1,000 years, Marrakech isn’t easily shocked. Still, it’s considered a sign of respect for your hosts to keep knees and shoulders covered. (This goes for men, too.)", says Telegraph Travel’s Marrakech expert Paula Hardy.

A souk in Marrakech

"Headscarves and skull caps aren’t expected, nor are they judged. In cosmopolitan Marrakech, it is understood that religious devotion and cultural affiliation cannot be determined by appearances alone.

“Mosques and zawiyyas (saint’s shrines) are not open to non-Muslims,” she adds. 

United Arab Emirates

"Respect for local culture and customs is highly desirable," theUnited Arab Emirates tourism website states. 

"Bikinis, swimsuits, shorts and revealing tops should be confined to beach resorts. Men should not be bare-chested away from the beach and women are advised not to wear short skirts and to keep their shoulders covered. Note that in the emirate of Sharjah, women are prohibited from wearing swimsuits on public beaches." 

Women should dress modestly when in public areas like shopping malls. 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, the FCO warns. 

A beach in Dubai

“If you want to be accepted and value the opportunity to befriend locals, dress modestly," says Telegraph Travel's Dubai expert Lara Dunston. "Women should wear skirts to the knees or longer, tops with sleeves, and nothing too tight or revealing; men should wear trousers/jeans and tops with sleeves. While you’ll see foreigners wearing less, this is highly offensive to Emiratis and it reduces your chances of meeting locals and getting the most out of your visit. Don’t even think about wearing swimwear away from the beach or hotel swimming pool. Do so and you risk being fined or, at worst, jailed.” 

Turkey

Dress conservatively when visiting mosques or a shrine, advises the FCO, and follow the dress codes posted outside each one, says Terry Richardson, Telegraph Travel’s Turkey expert.

Both men and women should not wear shorts, sleeveless shirts or anything that exposes too much flesh. Women should wear skirts reaching below the knee level, and shirts with sleeves preferably elbow length or longer. 

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Some of the country's most popular attractions, such as the Blue Mosque, may provide robes to tourists on site to cover themselves.

A woman wearing a headscarf and a chador (full body robe) on a street in IstanbulCREDIT: FOTOLIA/AP

In 2013, stricter dress codes were enforced at the Unesco World Heritage site, and a plastic mannequin dressed in a robe and headscarf was reported to have been placed in the walkway of the entrance to the Blue Mosque to serve as a model of how visitors should dress.

Egypt

While the Egyptian tourism ministry doesn’t state any specific strict dress codes, being a predominantly Muslim country, tourists to Egypt are advised to dress modestly, especially in rural areas, mosques and souqs (markets), the FCO states.  

Tourists in Sharm el Sheikh CREDIT: 2012 AFP/MOHAMMED ABED

Women’s clothes should cover the legs and upper arms. Men should cover their chests. What may be acceptable in the tourist resort areas, such as Sharm el Sheikhi, may not be in Cairo.

Oman

Islam is the state religion in Oman and both sexes tend to dress conservatively, with men generally wearing an ankle length collarless gown called a dishdasha and women a long black dress called an abaya.

Most tour operators advise tourists to wear long-sleeved tops and trousers and only wear swimsuits on the beach.

The Foreign Office agrees: “Women should dress modestly in public areas. Clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs, and underwear should not be visible.

“You should not wear swimming attire in public areas, except on tourist beaches or swimming pools. Women wearing shorts, or tight-fitting clothes, are likely to attract attention” it adds.

Last year, concerns were raised over whether cultural values are being respected after a man was reported to be singled out by security for wearing shorts at the City Centre Muscat mall.

“All of Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping malls have a courtesy policy in place, which is in line with the government policy on dress codes, to guide our visitors in wearing clothing that is culturally appropriate, and ensuring the comfort of all guests,” a statement provided at the time to the newspaper by the mall read.

"Oman’s shopping centres generally have signs clearly placed around them warning of the dress code expected,” Lizzie Porter, who previously travelled to the country, told Telegraph Travel.

“The vast majority of Omanis, especially in non-urban areas, dress modestly," she added. 

Ligi George, from the public relations section of the Women’s Guild in Oman (WGO), told the Times of Oman that while most of the visitors had tried to familiarise themselves with local customs, it can lead to “uncomfortable situations in public places for the local community and may lead to unpleasant interactions in general” when a few do not.

Lebanon

Lebanon is part Muslim, part Christian. In many areas you will find dress codes more relaxed than in other countries of the region, but the FCO advises travellers should still dress modestly when visiting religious sites and when it’s clear that local people expect it.

The beach coast of Beirut

While Beirut, the heart of the country’s fashion industry, might be full of stylishly and extravagantly dressed women and men, the city’s conservative Shiite majority has established a different standard and anywhere outside the capital locals are said to follow a conservative look.

Jordan

Jordan is a conservative society. You should dress modestly and behave courteously, the FCO warns.

Exposing as little skin as possible is key, wearing long trousers and shirts with long sleeves and high neck lines are advised for both men and women.

Petra, Jordan

Women should wear loose fitting clothes, covering the arms, legs and chest area, while T-shirts are best avoided for both sexes. Women’s hair should be dry, as wet hair is said to suggest sexual availability, and long hair should be clipped up following the pattern of local Jordanian women with long hair, who rarely wear it below their shoulders if they aren’t wearing a headscarf. Foreign women who cover their heads could also possibly be seen as inappropriate to non-Muslims in Jordan, especially by the women of Jordan’s Christian communities who do not wear headscarves.

However, within the districts of Amman such as Abdoun and Shmeisani, in large hotels and resorts, and Petra, tourists, especially those travelling in tour groups, are said to be free to dress more casually.  Outside these areas, women are advised to wear knee-length dresses or loose trousers, and cover your shoulders and upper arms.

On public beaches at the Dead Sea and in Aqaba, women may wear a swimsuit, preferably with a T-shirt and shorts over it, but bikinis should only be worn at high-end resorts and dive centres.

Saudi Arabia

It is forbidden for Saudi women to appear in public without their heads covered, and most Saudi women wear niqabs (veil).  Shopping is the main pastime in Riyadh, enjoyed by women and men. Women will normally be fully covered, including veils, the FCO states.

Saudi women in the village Al-Thamama, 50 kilometres north of the Saudi capital Riyadh CREDIT: GETTY

Riyadh is the capital of the Central region of Saudi Arabia, and of the country. It is a deeply conservative city and women should dress modestly when in public areas like shopping malls. 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, the FCO adds.

Last year, Michelle Obama caused controversy by not wearing a headscarf during her visit to the country. The First Lady dressed conservatively in black trousers and a long jacket, wearing loose clothing that fully covered her arms, but did not cover her head.

Hundreds of Saudis were reported to have taken to Twitter using hashtags translating to “#Michelle_Obama_Immodest” and "#Michelle_Obama_NotVeiled” to voice their disapproval of her decision not to observe Saudi customs.