Working out what to wear in Saudi Arabia as a woman, and what to wear in Saudi Arabia as a tourist and foreigner is a bit difficult as you may have heard, seen, and can imagine.
Many Muslim women in Saudi Arabia outside of their homes wear an Abaya to cover their body, a Head Scarf to cover their hair, and often a Niqab to cover their face. And in many cases, a full Saudi Arabia Burqa covering everything but their eyes, which I know as a tourist and foreigner to Saudi Arabia doesn’t seem that appealing!
So I bet you are thinking – what do female tourists wear in Saudi Arabia 2024?? and what do female expats wear in Saudi Arabia in 2024?
What To Wear in Saudi Arabia As a Woman
Well, I’m going to help you using my experience in Saudi Arabia as a foreign British woman and people who I’ve seen travel to Saudi recently.. because things have changed a lot even since I went in 2020!
What Saudi Women Wear vs Foreigners
The biggest thing to note is that there is a BIG difference between what a woman from Saudi Arabia wears and what a foreign woman in Saudi Arabia wears, and there’s even more of a difference depending on whether the foreign woman is Muslim or non-Muslim.
Since 2019 it is no longer compulsory for women to cover their hair and wear an Abaya in Saudi Arabia which means that foreign women do not need to wear an Abaya or cover their hair.
This change in law is really good for non-Muslim woman visiting Saudi Arabia because it means you are more free to wear what you want.
However, from my 6+ weeks as a tourist in Saudi Arabia, I realised that there is a big difference between the Saudi Arabia laws of what to wear and the Saudi Arabia customs meaning that although I didn’t cover my hair and I felt totally fine in Saudi Arabia not covering my hair (except for Medina).
I felt more comfortable wearing an Abaya in Saudi Arabia and I still wore one every day!
Using my experience, I will help you work out what to pack for Saudi Arabia, what women wear in Saudi Arabia and what to wear in Saudi Arabia as a tourist. Yalla!
- To help you with the rest of your trip to KSA, check out my other blog posts:
- Things to do in Riyadh, like a local!
- My Riyadh Travel & City Guide!
- Guide to the Diplomatic Expat Quarter in Riyadh!
- Visiting Medina as a Non-Muslim.
- Tourists Guide to Old Jeddah!
- How To Get a Sim Card in Riyadh Airport!
- How To Travel Saudi Arabia on a Budget!
Do Tourists Need to Wear an Abaya in Saudi Arabia?
Let’s start with the main question around what do women have to wear in Saudi Arabia and what should a woman wear in Saudi Arabia – Abaya’s!
In late 2019 it was announced that women do no longer need to wear an Abaya in Saudi Arabia. This was at the same time that the tourism e-visa for Saudi Arabia came into place.
I have met foreign women, ex-pats specifically, who stopped wearing an Abaya in Saudi Arabia at that time in Jeddah and Riyadh.
During my time in Saudi in 2020 and my experience as a foreign woman and tourist in Saudi Arabia, I always wore an Abaya outside of my accommodation.
However, Saudi is constantly changing and I have seen a few of my travel blogger friends go to Saudi in 2022 & 2023 and they didn’t wear an Abaya. They wore a fairly modest dress instead, covering most of their arms, legs and chest in Jeddah, Al-Ula and Riyadh and they were comfortable doing so.
Related Post: Here is my Riyadh Travel Guide and all the things I wish I had known about Riyadh before arriving! Need accommodation in Riyadh? See the best offers here!
Why I wore an Abaya in Saudi Arabia?
Personally, I got a lot of stares and looks from people here as a blonde, white, western woman in Saudi Arabia, which is understandable, but I feel that if I was not wearing an Abaya I would get even more looks.
Before I arrived in KSA I thought that an Abaya might make me stand out because it was obvious this is not my usual dress sense, but that is far from what happened.
If you are a foreigner, you will stand out MORE without an Abaya than with one. And you will definitely stand out if you show a lot of skin in an outfit that isn’t an Abaya, even nowadays in 2023!
If you do not wear an Abaya, legally, no one can tell you off. You may have heard of the religious police in Saudi Arabia, the Religious Police lost a lot of control a few years ago and are no longer around. However, you still need to dress conservatively whether you decide to wear an Abaya or not.
Dressing conservatively and working out what should a woman wear in Saudi Arabia and what do female tourists wear in Saudi Arabia, means that you should have little skin on show and not wear anything that is too tight.
Have you got travel insurance for Saudi Arabia?
If you’re exploring Saudi Arabia on an extended Middle East trip like I did, make sure you have the best insurance possible! I recommend Safety Wing who specialise in Nomad Insurance – a travel medical insurance that covers you for extended travel all over the world!
I travelled Saudi Arabia as a backpacker and digital nomad, taking my time to travel the country as there is so much to see! I used the Safety Wing Nomad Insurance covering me for electronics, medical, injuries, lost luggage and much more, making me feel very safe in Saudi and on my Middle East trip!
Check out extended travel and nomad insurance options here!
Can I wear anything in Saudi Arabia?
If you do not want to wear an Abaya in Saudi Arabia, I recommend on your Saudi Arabia packing list you include tops that cover your arms, chest, are a bit baggy and are longer to cover your bum.
Long sleeved kimono’s are a great choice instead of an Abaya too, especially in Jeddah where local women tend to wear different styles of Abaya because Kimono’s are easier to purchase for many, lighter in material and shorter so you might get on better with one than an Abaya.
Jeans are fine but I would suggest you have a top that covers your bum and hips if they are tight.
Saudi Arabia gets extremely hot in the summer months but that doesn’t mean you can put shorts on or a dress that is revealing.
This is why, in my opinion, it is easier to wear an Abaya as a female in Saudi Arabia because you can’t go wrong. You put it on and you know you’ll be covered!
It is also the local custom to wear an Abaya here. Often when we travel we want to dress like the locals and wear traditional clothes, well here in Saudi Arabia, that means wearing a black Abaya and personally, I enjoyed wearing it.
I didn’t feel oppressed, I actually felt quite glamorous! And if black is too much for you, get a pink or cream one!
What to wear in Jeddah
Jeddah is the one city you will feel more comfortable in without an Abaya or wearing an open Abaya, because people in Jeddah are used to ex-pats and foreign workers and it has a much more relaxed atmosphere.
What to wear in Dammam and Khobar
Damman and Khobar which are coastal cities close to Bahrain are also cities that are pretty relaxed and used to foreign ex-pats wearing different clothes to locals.
What to wear in AlUla
If you are visiting the popular place of AlUla you will also feel comfortable without an Abaya and potentially more revealing clothes due to how many foreigners visit AlUla and the type of modern vibe they are creating there.
What to wear in Riyadh
Riyadh is getting more progressive and modern as each month goes on.
I personally did wear an Abaya in Riyadh and I liked wearing one there but aside from Jeddah and AlUla you will probably feel most comfortable not wearing an Abaya in Riyadh.
The only time I didn’t wear an Abaya in Riyadh personally was when I did the Edge of the World Tour and the Red Dunes Tour because pretty much everyone on them were tourists, expats or young Saudi’s who had obviously travelled a lot and the Saudi women weren’t wearing Abaya’s either.
Plus, walking around at the Edge of the World or up Sand Dunes in an Abaya if you’re not used to it is very tricky! lol.
What to wear in Abha
The other cities and towns in Saudi Arabia may find it very strange that you are not wearing one, for example, I went to Abha and I didn’t wear one in a restaurant complex one night and I had a lot of people staring at me! But legally you do not have to, so you cannot get in trouble for not wearing one.
However, places like Abha are a great chance to try on and buy Abayas that are local to the region with bright colours like mine below, and they make for great photos!
What to wear in Saudi for work as a foreigner?
I know many people read this blog post because they are visiting Saudi for work, sometimes to move there permanently but sometimes for just a few days for a meeting or event.
If you are moving to Saudi permanently you have time to speak to your company and get advice on what to wear.
If you are visiting for a meeting or event for just a few days, you may be given an idea of what to wear but you may not. I get many comments on this post from ladies who have decided to buy an abaya to wear in Saudi for a business event which I think is a nice idea.
Depending on who you are meeting or who is running the event, it is very respectful to wear an Abaya as a visitor in Saudi and it will no doubt impress those you are visiting.
I would say, unless you have been told you have to wear an Abaya, you won’t be expected to wear one as a foreign guest in Saudi, however, you will probably be expected and it will definitely be respectful of you to wear a long dress or skirt and top with the majority of your legs, arms, back and chest covered.
What Abaya To Wear in Saudi Arabia?
The most common Abaya colour in Saudi is Black and most Saudi women will be wearing a black Abaya.
There are no rules on what colour Abaya to wear in Saudi and these days women do wear different colours like dark green, blue, purple and grey, especially in Jeddah and AlUla.
Depending on where you live or travel before Saudi Arabia, you may be able to buy an Abaya before you get here. I visited Kuwait before Saudi. I didn’t have to wear an Abaya in Kuwait but they did have plenty on sale in the Souk I visited so I got one and was able to put it on on the plane and wear it when I landed.
This will be the same in Turkey, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE so if you visit any of these Middle Eastern countries first, buy one there so you can put it on when you arrive in Saudi Arabia.
It’s also worth finding Muslim areas near where you live, you’ll probably be surprised how many Abaya’s are about, for example if you’re in London to go Arab areas of London like Whitechapel and you’ll see so many shops to buy an Abaya from!
Websites like Modanisa based in Turkey ship internationally and are reasonably priced so they are good to use to buy Abaya’s and modest clothing, although check shipping times as if your trip is coming up soon they might not arrive on time.
What should I wear to Saudi Airport?
If you can’t get an Abaya before arriving, that’s ok. You are completely fine arriving in Riyadh Airport, or Jeddah Airport with no Abaya.
Related Post: How To Get a Sim Card in Riyadh Airport! It’s really easy to get a tourist prepaid Saudi Arabia sim card in Riyadh Airport!
If you arrive in Saudi without an Abaya and want to get one, all Malls in Saudi Arabia will sell Abayas. Some Abaya shops can be expensive so keep an eye on the prices in shops, but if you go to a mall with a local looking market inside it, you will get a cheaper one.
If you buy one in Saudi Arabia you will be able to get a basic Abaya for under 100SAR very easily.
What Abaya should I wear in Saudi?
If you decide to buy an Abaya for Saudi, from my experience, you should look for an Abaya that:
Is Black, or another colour of your choice.
Has buttons. Some Abaya’s do not have buttons and are more like a long dress that goes over your head and cover all your chest, they are ok but without buttons, they will be hot to wear.
Some have a zip but again, they will be hotter. The buttons give a breeze and give you the option to have the Abaya open or closed.
Has buttons all the way down. I have one Abaya with a button just at the top and in the wind, it blows open which is annoying so I prefer my Abaya with buttons all the way down it as I can keep it fully closed or open it more depending on where I am.
Goes all the way to your feet. This isn’t a must and it doesn’t need to touch the floor but if you want to do as the local ladies do, it should be as long as possible.
Is a light material. Saudi Arabia is cold in the winter months and you’ll actually want a thicker Abaya then but outside of winter in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn, you will want an Abaya that is light and not too thick or heavy so that you do not get too hot.
Isn’t too cheap. If you are visiting Saudi Arabia for a short time, you don’t want to spend too much money on an Abaya but be sure that the material is not too cheap as it could make you very hot.
Is no more than 100SAR / £20.00.
Even if you are in Saudi for 2-3 weeks, I’d say you only need 1 Abaya, they are easy to wash and clean and from my experience, they don’t get too dirty so don’t worry about getting more than one.
What to Wear Under an Abaya in Saudi Arabia?
Normal clothes!
Of course, this will depend on the temperature and how well you cope with wearing clothes in the heat, I do not cope well with this!
You can’t wear shorts under an Abaya for example, but you can wear baggy 3/4 length pants or a skirt underneath with a small, lower, part of your leg showing.
You can wear jeans.
You can wear a jumper, t-shirt, or if it’s hot, you can wear a tank top which will keep you cooler. Just be careful not too show too much chest skin if you wear less clothes underneath.
I really like H&M for long dresses to wear under an Abaya or 3/4 bags trousers. Click here to have a look at options!
Do Tourists Need to Cover Their Hair in Saudi Arabia?
This law also changed recently but before the Abaya law. Covering your hair in Saudi Arabia and wearing a Hijab in Saudi Arabia is NOT needed unless you go inside a Mosque and unlike the Abaya culture and law, you will feel fine with your hair out in public as a tourist and non-Muslim in Saudi Arabia.
The only place I covered my hair in public was in the holy city of Medina.
It is a good idea to have a shawl or scarf on you most of the time, just in case, or just in case you feel like you’re being stared at a lot and you can put it on because when it comes to what do women wear in Saudi Arabia, most women here do cover their hair, and face, in public.
FAQs about what to wear in Saudi Arabia:
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about what to wear in Saudi:
What do tourists wear in Saudi Arabia?
Tourists do not need to wear the same clothing as local Saudi’s wear but both women and men must wear clothing that doesn’t show too much skin. Not only are you being respectful by doing this, you will also feel more comfortable.
Can I wear anything in Saudi Arabia?
No. Although there is much more flexibility and openness on what men and women who are tourists in Saudi Arabia can wear, you must still wear clothes that look respectful and cover most of your skin, especially your legs for both men and women.
What do men wear in Saudi Arabia?
You’ll see most men in Saudi wearing a white Thobe, also known in the Middle East as a Kandura. As a male tourist in Saudi, you do not need to wear one of these (although they are extremely comfortable and light to wear so you should try it at least once!), instead you can wear any type of long trousers, t-shirt, shirt, jumper etc.
Can I wear shorts in Saudi?
In many countries, especially in Muslim countries, it’s best to do as the locals do and in Saudi Arabia, men do not wear shorts outside their house. This means that as a tourist in Saudi Arabia you should avoid wearing shorts too so you respect the local custom and don’t make yourself stand out. This applies to women too, even under an Abaya, unless you definitely can’t see you legs, it is not a good idea to wear shorts in Saudi Arabia because it isn’t what most people are used to seeing and you will get more stares.
Can I wear ripped jeans in Saudi?
The fashion in Saudi Arabia is changing dramatically. Whilst once you might get told off for wearing ripped jeans in Saudi, this is definitely not the case now, but also, it’s not really common for local Saudi men or women to wear ripped jeans as they do look messy. Small rips are ok but don’t take your biggest ripped jeans on a trip to Saudi Arabia!!
What happens if you break the dress code in Saudi?
As a tourist in Saudi, nothing happens if you break the dress code. There is no one there to officially tell you off so please do not worry about that. If you dress definitely to the locals you will get more stares as they are not used to seeing this and you may get denied access into mosques or some religious places if not properly covered but no-one should actually tell you off.
What do Women in Saudi wear?
Many of the Muslim women in Saudi Arabia outside of their homes wear an Abaya to cover their body, a Head Scarf to cover their hair, often a Niqab to cover their face. And in many cases, a full Saudi Arabia Burqa covering everything but their eyes.
I hope this helps you work out what Saudi Arabia dress for females is like and what do tourists wear in Saudi Arabia.
To SEE my time in Saudi Arabia, have a look at this YouTube video and the others on my channel!
- To help you with the rest of your trip to KSA, check out my other blog posts:
- My Riyadh Travel & City Guide!
- Visiting Medina as a Non-Muslim.
- A Complete Tourists Guide to Old Jeddah!
- How To Get a Sim Card in Riyadh Airport!
- How To Travel Saudi Arabia on a Budget!
- ALL MY SAUDI ARABIA BLOG POSTS
Rachael
Monday 1st of July 2024
Where did you buy your pink abaya? I’ve been looking for one like that! So pretty.
TheWanderingQuinn
Thursday 4th of July 2024
It is so nice! It's from a UK company called By Shaqeela, they have a website and are on instagram :)
Monica
Monday 29th of January 2024
Thank you for the great advice on what to wear! What about shoes? Can you wear Sandler or do they have to be closed shoes like running shoes? Black I’m assuming?
TheWanderingQuinn
Wednesday 7th of February 2024
Hello, I'm glad you found it helpful. You can wear whatever shoes and sandals you like. They can be open toed with no problem and any colour. You'll probably see local ladies in high heels and abayas :)
zeena
Wednesday 6th of December 2023
This was really helpful. I was born and raised up in Dubai but I can understand the rules of Sharjah and Jeddah are similar. &definitely I was a bit confused on knee length clothing. Ill keep in mind to get more coords with longer tops, or jackets to either tie it on my waist. And also I'll get more longer tops - Im not forgetting to carry my shawls and 1 abaya - to be on the safer side. Thankyou again.
TheWanderingQuinn
Monday 11th of December 2023
I'm glad it was helpful! :)
Landia
Sunday 15th of October 2023
I would love some opinions on the subject of abayas. I visited Saudi Arabia earlier in the year and packed two beautiful abayas bought in London and several western long button through shirts to wear over jeans and dresses. I travelled to Riyadh, Jeddah, Red Sea and Alula, and other cities and towns, I was respectfully dressed at all times but did not wear the abayas. I felt too shy and wondered if it might be seen as cultural appropriation. I am returning to Saudi soon and I would be very interested to know people's thoughts.
TheWanderingQuinn
Monday 16th of October 2023
Hello, I'm glad you bought some Abaya's they are lovely aren't they. I know what you mean by thinking it could feel like cultural appropriation however you'll see many foreigners wearing them as this is the 'standard dress code' (although less now as you might have seen), I also believe that cultural appropriation should be worried about more when countries / cultures were subject to colonialism / were overpowered which isn't the case in Saudi so there isn't that sensitivity around cultural dress there :)
Julia
Thursday 7th of September 2023
Hi, and thank you for the very useful information that you shared! What is not clear for me is the 'role' of abaya. I'm going for a 1-week business trip, and will work in an office environment. I like the idea of wearing an abaya, so i'd like to wear one while there. But how is it in an office? Do women wear the abaya the whole day in the office (meaning they have a lot of abayas as we have trousers/skirts/dresses) or do they take it off when entering the office, so it is more like a coat above their dresses? So, shall i buy let's say 2 abayas, and wear those for the whole weak and bring only stuff for under it, or shall i pack Western style business clothes for each day because they will be visible?
TheWanderingQuinn
Thursday 7th of September 2023
Hello, very good question!
The abaya is designed to be kept on even inside (when men are present). It's not treated as an outside garment that gets taken off once you are inside.
However, as a foreigner and tourist you can really do as you please. I'd say to take western business style clothing as you will be fine to wear these and better to have them just in case you feel more comfortable in them.
However, if you wish to try an Abaya, you can and should, taking 1 will be fine for 1 week and you can dress it stylishly over your work clothes, more like a kimono having it open and taking it off as and when you please, or you can have casual comfy clothes under neath it and do it up and keep it on. I hope that helps :)