A-hab the A-rab

Dubai was our first visit to an Arabian country and although we had heard good things, we were a little apprehensive given the fact that this was a predominantly Muslim country.  

As it turned out the people were very friendly and our biggest concern was whether or not Jo-Ann could wear her short skirt to the shopping malls.  Women in Dubai dress modestly even non-Arabs cover their arms and legs mostly to the floor but always below the knee. 

The traditional dress is for men a tailored white over shirt full length to the floor.  On their head they wear a square of material folded into a triangle held in

place by black braided cord.  For women the colour is black and most women are veiled but all wear a head covering.  About 1 in 4 people you meet are wearing the traditional dress.

The weather in Dubai is HOT, on the days we were there it was 35-38C, but they tell us that in summer 48C is common.  So we dressed as we would for Cairns short pants and skirts.  Although Jo-Ann got a few looks, mostly from the guest worker males from India and Bangladesh, we mostly fitted in with the other tourists that also didn’t seem to get the message.

Although everywhere is air-conditioned (even the train stations and bus stops), we really felt the heat when outside.  The night after we arrived there was a sand storm and the sky was a haze of dust, this seemed to cloak the whole landscape.

I can’t imagine how hot it would be under a full length white or black outfit, but given the dust and the radiant heat maybe they know something we don’t.