Saudi Arabia has been on everyone’s lips since the opening of Our Habitas AlUla, a sustainable retreat located within the ancient Arabic oasis city of AlUla – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – in the country’s Medina Province.
Having only opened its doors to international tourists in 2019, Saudi Arabia is an emerging wellness capital with exceptional hospitality. It welcomed over 100 million tourists in 2023, is safe to visit as a female, and is quickly establishing itself as a bucket-list destination.
Saudi has the world’s third-highest percentage of female entrepreneurs, and women are leading the way across its fashion scene too; luxury brand Abadia became the first Saudi brand to be stocked on NET-A-PORTER earlier this year.
Saudi Arabia is a conservative country, so the dress code for women is modest clothing that’s loose-fitting and that covers the shoulders, elbows and knees. If you’re planning a trip to this Middle Eastern country this year, see our tips below on what to pack to respect the local culture whilst managing the balmy temperatures of the Arabian Peninsula.
What To Wear To A Mosque
The dress-code in Saudi Arabia is generally conservative, but at a place of worship it’s particularly important to make sure you adhere to the rules. Visitors can enter many of the mosques across the country, and ladies are expected to wear long dresses, trousers or skirts (below the knees), to keep shoulders covered, and to also cover their hair with a scarf when doing so. No tight-fitting or transparent clothing should be worn; loose fitting tunic or shirt dresses are a great start, as you can wear them for the rest of your trip too. If you want to follow the traditional style of the Arabian abaya, Abadia’s beautiful, billowing jacket is the perfect add-on to a dress or skirt-and-shirt combination. There’s no footwear restrictions, although you will be asked to take your shoes off inside the areas of worship.
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What to Wear When Exploring
There’s so much to do in Saudi, including seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites rich in heritage and culture, Jeddah’s vibrant cosmopolitan hub with flourishing arts and culinary scenes, and AlUla’s breathtaking landscapes – so you’ll never be short of sightseeing adventures. Temperatures can be as high as 40+ degrees celsius in the summer months, and are still balmy in the winter, so lightweight and breathable fabrics like linen are essential. A cool co-ord is modest yet comfortable, and you can wear it back home too.
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What To Wear For Dinner
Women in Saudi Arabia love luxury fashion, and Marriam Mossalli’s Under The Abaya book celebrates female empowerment in the region through a series of street-style photos that showcase individualism. Dining in Saudi is state-of-the-art, and there’s a wide-range of female-owned Saudi restaurants to choose from – we love Oishii Sushi by chef Khulood Olaqi in Riyadh. Beautiful kaftans and silk draping will set the scene for evening glamour – look to Dubai-based brand BOUGUESSA for sophisticated pieces you’ll treasure for years to come.
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What To Wear In The Mall
Most of us don’t want to have to buy a whole new wardrobe for one country and then never wear the items again, so chic co-ords from brands like TOTEME will be good investments for summer at home too. Monochrome separates will be the basis of your vacation wardrobe wherever you travel to, and can be styled up or down depending on the occasion. These long-sleeved shirts with trouser options are modest, but stylish too.
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Lead image: BOUGUESSA
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Any Questions or Tips to add?