I was most eager to see one particular tourist attraction in UAE and didn’t want to make a mistake regarding the Abu Dhabi mosque dress code. But here is what happened.
I made sudden plans to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi the next day. (You’ll find more about it in my Abu Dhabi tour from Dubai post.) Local guides emphasized the importance of following the Abu Dhabi mosque dress code, advising us to wear long sleeves and trousers. (If you go by the sightseeing bus all the way to Abu Dhabi, you’ll get a discount.) They assured us that appropriate scarves would be provided at the entrance.
Abu Dhabi Mosque Dress Code
What a thrill! I rushed to my friend’s house, begging for any kind of trousers, as I had packed only summer clothes—short and light for the vacation, though not quite “light enough” for the intense 45-degree heat in this strange Dubai climate. I ended up with a pair of men’s trousers and a blouse, both far too large, and I knew I’d be sweltering in them. But after all, it was the Grand Mosque we were visiting!
And yes—those trousers were unbearably hot, and yes—I slipped multiple times because they were too long and cumbersome. Still, I proudly packed the blouse, thinking I’d be practical and pull it out as soon as I entered the mosque. I even had my own scarf, so I thought I was fully prepared. No surprises there!
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I arrived at the entrance. A local man directed me toward a dressing room, where tourists were to receive the required abayas for women or white dishdashas for men.
“Thank you, sir, but I have everything I need in my bag. I’m well prepared.”
He smiled and gestured toward a small elevator, asking me to take it.
“No, really, you don’t understand, I’m fine. I have all I need.”
Still smiling, but more insistent this time, he said, “I understand, madam, but please, kindly take the elevator.”
Of course, I complied. Down I went, left my ID, and was handed a short, hooded, black and blue abaya—shorter, apparently, because – I was already wearing trousers!
Had I arrived in a light summer skirt (which would’ve been perfect for this heat), they would have given me a longer abaya that covered my ankles. As for the blouse? Useless. It stayed packed away, heavy and pointless, along with the scarf! And so, I lugged that bulky bag around the mosque for three or four hours—all for nothing!
Back in Dubai, I returned the borrowed clothes.
“Hope they were useful,” my friend said.
The heat, the stumbling, the heavy bag… but also, the magnificent white marble wonder in the middle of the desert. I just smiled and replied:
“Thank you, it was definitely worth it.”
Next: WHAT TO SEE IN ABU DHABI IN A DAY
The full Dubai SERIES
19 responses
Thar mosque looks so beautiful!
Oh, yes, it’s beautiful. I would like to take credit for it and say that it’s just up to my “photo skills”, but that wouldn’t be true, because the mosque itself is surreal.
There will be more about it (pictures included) on Wednesday follow-up. 🙂
Thanks for commenting.
No problem 🙂 i just followed! Can’t wait to see more the photos
Thanks, it means a lot. 🙂
No problem 🙂 check out my lastest post!! Hopefully you like it! It’s about Italian food
Of course, I’m already following, remember. 😉 Love those gnocci, btw
Haha yes you are. . haha they were good!
Oh wow! what an experience and thank you very much for sharing this post. As a Female traveler, I ALWAYS have to research what is the appropriate clothing especially when visiting countries in the Middle East. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip! =)
It’s better to be prepared, even if something like this happens, hehehe. 😀 Oh yes, I’ve enjoyed it, it’s a nice place to visit, thanks!
That’s an interesting take on being prepared!. Good to know, as I’m planning to go to Dubai later this year. Thanks for your insights!
If you go to the Grand Mosque, you’ll get everything you need there, that’s the point. I was just “overthinking it”. 😀
Oh that mosque is too beautiful.. you must come back to Dubai. It’s truly an Arabian adventure..
Well, I found the city as a mixture of various influences. But the Mosque was dreamy, I loved it. 🙂
Oh no! But as I can see from the picture, all your trials and tribulations look to have been worth it to see that mosque. And definitely a good story that you’ll remember for many years to come! Looking forward to reading about the mosque in your next post…
That’s how it gets when you’re determine enough. 😀 Thanks, Jennie.
Hahaha, the things you have to do to see some of these beautiful places! As you say, it definitely looks like it was worth it. But it couldn’t have always felt like that though – and to think you had actually made the effort to come prepared to! Oh well, makes for a great blog post I suppose 😉
First of all, great memories and a nice story to tell when you come home. Than it’s easy to turn it into an interesting post I guess. 😉 Thank you so much, glad to have made you laugh! 😀
It’s great that you have such a good sense of humor about it all. The mosque is very beautiful. It seems totally worth the extra trouble.
Oh yes, it was worth it. Still smiling when I think about that day though! 😀 Thanks guys!