Dubai is widely known as the “Jewel of the Desert”. It’s widely recognized as a wondrous modern city with all kinds of state-of-the-art attractions – but don’t let appearances fool you. As futuristic as it may look, Dubai is an Islamic city… which means there are ancient traditions and customs that must be observed and respected.
- Ladies’ Swimwear, burkiniCharlesFred / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
This is especially true when it comes to foreign ladies looking to enjoy the local beaches.
Top-less is out of the question
As general rule, women should simply withhold from going topless while in Dubai. This practice simply is much too out of line with the local habits, and would draw unwarranted attention and possibly lead to unpleasant situations. This applies both to beaches attended by locals, as well as touristic havens or beach resorts; remember this is a very particular culture, and whether or not you agree with the local views on women, there is no point in trying to express your individuality by removing the top of your swimsuit.
Revealing swimsuits only on hotel grounds
If a woman makes a point of wearing revealing or sexy swimsuits and thongs, they should do so only on hotel grounds or among touristic circles. Remember, women in Islamic cultures are expected to be modest and discreet. If you oppose this reasoning and decide to flaunt sexy swimwear in local beaches, that will lead to no positive outcome. In the very best scenario you’ll draw unwanted attention, and in the worst scenario you may actually be approached provocative or rude men. When visiting Dubai, it’s wise to carry different types of swimsuit for different occasions. When attending a local beach that seems to be attended by men only, women may want to refrain from swimming at all. As far as Muslims are concerned, man and women are not supposed to bathe in the same waters. This rule is considerably slacker when it comes to touristic grounds, but very much active in areas frequented by locals.
Consider getting a burkini
For any women who are looking to immerse in the local culture, and maybe swim with the locals without raising waves, a sensible decision is to actually get an Abaya style Burkini. This is a colorful body-suit style swimsuit that conforms to the Islamic tradition by revealing little of the female figure. These garments are made from the same fabrics used in swimsuits, so they can be used for swimming even though they cover most of the body. Granted… for a woman coming from a less conservative culture, the thought of wearing a burkini may sound a big offensive. But let’s face it — you’re not going to change the local worldviews just by adopting a confrontational stance during your short stay. If you’re just a regular tourist rather than a political activist, conforming to the local standards will allow you to enjoy Dubai at the fullest without need to get caught up in any sort of cultural clash related to bathing apparel.
