Does the abaya in Saudia Arabia have to be black?

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Posted by

on 21 Mar 2012

Does the abaya in Saudia Arabia have to be black? I am going out to meet my husband in Jubail and have been told I need an abaya, are there any restrictions on colour or weight of fabric (obviously not too flimsy)? I am worried I will get overheated. Also when I arrive do I have to wear one as I enter the country? I am flying to Bahrain and travelling by road so am not sure if I have to be wearing one to get into the country. I would be grateful for help, even though this seems to be a very daft question in the scheme of things.

Anonymous (not verified) on 22 Mar 2012 - 07:04

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

Anonymous (not verified) on 22 Mar 2012 - 15:04

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

Anonymous (not verified) on 27 Jun 2012 - 06:32

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?

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