Does the abaya in Saudia Arabia have to be black?

Hi Rachel

This is not a daft question at all, in fact it's a really important one as it's something that I am sure many other women travelling to Saudi Arabia would want to know. Traditionally the abaya is black, and although there are some who do try to break from tradition, there have been stories of the Muttawa (religious police) confiscating brightly coloured abayas. If you don't want to draw attention to yourself, it's best to stick to the traditional black. It is law that all women going out in public wear an abaya and when entering the country you should be wearing it, rather than risking not being allowed in for violating the laws. Just remember when entering Saudi Arabia by road you are not allowed to drive, and you'll have to be met by your sponsor. If you would like to learn more about life in Saudi Arabia, please have a look at our Moving to Saudi Arabia page.

Catherine

Hi Catherine, Thank you so much for the info you have taken away the confustion. I will check out your page too. I will now go online to find a plain back abaya as I expect anything embelished or embroidered is out. Rachel

I am moving to Saudi Arabia and wondering how I will get my taxes done. Does anyone have a good international tax company they use to do their taxes?