The quick answer
Light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees for public places, swimwear for the pool and the beach and nowhere else, something smart for the evening, and a warm layer for the air conditioning, which is the item nobody expects to need in a desert.
How to dress, by setting
The UAE is more relaxed than its neighbors in practice, and Dubai more so than Abu Dhabi and much more so than Sharjah. The standard is contextual rather than absolute.
- Malls, souks, museums and government buildings. Shoulders and knees covered. Signs at mall entrances say so. This is where visitors most often get it wrong.
- Beaches, hotel pools and beach clubs. Swimwear is fine. Cover up to leave.
- Public beaches. More conservative than hotel ones.
- Mosques. Long sleeves and long pants or skirt, and a headscarf for women. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque provides and enforces this at the entrance.
- Evening. Both cities dress up, and some venues have dress codes. Pack something smart.
- Ramadan. Dress more conservatively than usual, everywhere.
Women do not need a headscarf in ordinary public places. Carry a light one anyway: it covers you for a mosque, shades you from the sun and warms you in a cold restaurant.
The indoor layer
A cardigan, pashmina or light jacket, genuinely necessary in July, and useful on winter evenings and desert nights, which are cold.
Sun and heat
High factor sunscreen, sunglasses, a brimmed hat and a refillable water bottle. The sun reflects hard off sand, water and glass, and hydration here is a safety matter rather than a comfort one.
Footwear
Comfortable walking shoes, sandals for heat, something easy to slip off for mosques and for homes, and closed shoes for a desert trip, where sand gets into everything and can be hot enough to burn.
Practical items
- Universal adaptor; the UAE uses the British three-pin plug.
- Any regular medication in original labeled packaging with the prescription. This matters more here than almost anywhere; see the entry guide.
- A light scarf, per above.
- A small day bag that closes.
What not to bring
- Anything containing cannabis or CBD, whatever its legality at home.
- Poppy seeds, and some herbal or slimming supplements.
- Controlled medication without approval and documentation.
- Drones, without permission.
- Anything political about the region, and anything that would read as offensive.
Planning with LABUSA Travel
We brief travelers on dress and customs before departure, and tell you which specific venues on your itinerary have a dress code worth packing for.
Sources
- Visit Dubai, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism: official visitor information for the emirate of Dubai. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- Experience Abu Dhabi, Department of Culture and Tourism: official visitor information for the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Accessed 11 August 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: UAE travel advice, including local laws, customs and entry requirements. Accessed 11 August 2026.