What to wear in Abu Dhabi: packing list and style guide to be appropriate, comfortable and stylish

Abu Dhabi packing list and tips on what to wear in Abu Dhabi for comfort, style and getting the dress code right. What to pack for Abu Dhabi printable packing list.

Deciding what to pack for Abu Dhabi can be a bit of a headache.

The capital of the UAE gets very warm temperatures, which call for lightweight, breathable, summer clothing but Emirati culture calls for modesty, which requires being more covered up than the thermometer seems to suggest.

On top of this, Abu Dhabi has lovely restaurants you want to dress up for, it has strong air conditioning and a dress code that is similar but not the same as the dress code in Dubai, which you are likely to visit on the same trip.

All this make the answer to the question what to wear in Abu Dhabi a little less straightforward that it may seem and this why today I share this Abu Dhabi packing list!

To learn what to pack for Abu Dhabi I turned to my local friends.

You may have already seen their tips in our article about how to spend a day in Dubai, what to do in Dubai with kids and tips for visiting Abi Dhabi with children. Today, I picked their brain about packing for Abu Dhabi.

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How hot does Abu Dhabi get?

Abu Dhabi gets very hot, pretty much all year round so when I say pack light, summer, breathable clothing, I mean it!

Temperatures in Abu Dhabi by month are as follows:

• January: Min 15c / Max 24C
• February: Min 16C / Max 25C
• March: Min 18C / Max 29C
• April: Min 22C/ Max 34C
• May: Min 26C / Max 34C
• June: Min 28C / Max 40C
• July: Min 30C / Max 41C
• August: min 31C / Max 42C
• September: Min 28C / Max 39C
• October: Min 24C / 35C
• November: Min 21C / 30C
• December: Min 17C / 26C

Depending on where you are from and when you go, these temperatures go from a nice spring to a scorching hot summer – please be careful with the sun and do take into account that it can feel even warmer than this. Be sensible with your plans especially in the hottest months!

Abu Dhabi dress code

When it comes to Abu Dhabi dress code, it is important to distinguish what locals wear and what it is expected of tourists.

It is also important to know that what locals wear varies depending on the person (there is more variety than you may think) and where in the city you are, tourist hangouts and hotels being more liberal than other areas.

Last but not least, I feel it is important to know that there is what you can wear but also what you may feel comfortable wearing and what can be perceived as disrespectful.

Traditional Abu Dhabi clothing for women and men

The traditional clothing for women is made of an abaya, a long and elegant overlay that covers up to the wrists and ankles but leaves the face visible and the hijab, the traditional women’s headpiece worn by Muslim women.

The hijab covers hair, ears and neck and leaves the face visible.

Another item of women’s clothing you may see in Abu Dhabi is the burqa. In Europe we usually heat the word burqa in reference to a long overgarment that covers the woman’s body from head to toes including the face however, I found it interesting to hear that the Burqa in Abu Dhabi is a face mask!

This is a type of item that apparently is less and less common now it is a traditional handicraft of this area and can still be seen worn especially by women of older generations. You can learn all about it here

The traditional Emirati clothing for men is made of a Kandura (also called dishdasha) and a ghutra.

A Kandura is an elegant long piece of over clothing for men: in the UAE this is usually white, although other colors exist, it has not collar and can have embroidery on the sleeves.

A ghutra is a headpiece worn by men and held in place by an agal, a black cord that wraps around the head and the forehead. Ghutras are traditionally white however, you can also see them checkered patterns, a fashion coming from Saudi.

Abu Dhabi dress code for tourists

Tourists in Abu Dhabi are not expected to wear traditional clothing and women do not need to cover their heads.

However, tourists should abide by a dress code that means their attire is respectful of local culture. Let’s have a look at what you can and cannot wear in Abu Dhabi

What to wear in Abu Dhabi as a tourist

As a tourist in Abu Dhabi you want your clothings to be:

Breathable and lightweight – Abu Dhabi gets very hot pretty much all year round and you need to dress for it. Opt for light, breathable clothes, light colors and leave artificial materials like polyester at home.

Good items to pack for Abu Dhabi are breathable t-shorts and tops, long summer dresses, flowy pants/trousers, light chinos and loose long pants for men.

Make sure you also bring a coverup for that air conditioning!

Modest – modest is a loose term and can be interpreted in several ways.

While you don’t need to fully cover up in Abu Dhabi, avoid short skirts, short shorts, strappy or sleeveless tops, anything see though, plunging necklines, anything clinging too much to your body and anything that shoes too much skin.

Avoid short shorts and even better, opt for below the knee skirts and for men, long light trousers.

Appropriate items to pack for Abu Dhabi are long summer dresses, flowy trousers (men and women), one piece swimsuit for the beach and pool. If you must have shorts, opt for baggy, longer ones.

Beautiful – ok, there is obviously no rule about wearing beautiful clothes in Abu Dhabi but people are pretty dressed up here and many restaurants have dress codes so you want to put your best foot forward!

While you don’t need a ballgown or a tie to go out (check dress-codes for specific events and venues), you will feel more appropriate in Abu Dhabi with good clothing. Avoiding anything that is ripped, stained or overly casual to fit in best.

What to wear for Abu Dhabi Mosque

If you are going to Abu Dhabi you are probably going to visit the Grand Mosque and wondering what it is appropriate to wear there.

While it is true that a mosque has stricter dress code, the Abu Dhabi Mosque offers coverups for visitors so you don’t need any special attire for it.

Please be aware that you will be asked to remove your shoes.

What to wear on Abu Dhabi beaches

While you will see covered-up women, it is ok to wear a swimsuit on Abu Dhabi beaches.

You can wear a one-piece swimsuit and bikinins are also acceptable especially on private beaches (on public ones with many local families it is more approprate to wear a one piece bathing suit instead).

If you opt for a bikini, make sure it is one that covers you properly. G-strings are not allowed and sunbathing topless or nude is an absolute no.

Please note that you should not wear a bikini on public beaches on Ramadan.

Good to know: always cover up when leaving the beach as hanging around in a swimsuit outside of the beach areas is a no-no.

What to wear for a desert safari from Abu Dhabi

If planning on going on a desert safari, think comfort… and sand!

Long line trousers, comfortable dresses and comfy tops that allow you to keep your legs covered and will make moving about easy (thing camel riding quad biking etc) are best

Opt for light, breathable materials and light colors.

What to pack for Abu Dhabi – clothing and toiletries

• Below the knee skirts
• Summer tops
• Pashmina / shawl for art conditioned areas
• Upper layer for air conditioning/evening trip to the desert
• Swimsuit
• Swim coverup
• Nice dresses for the evening
• Essential underwear / undergarments
• Nightwear
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Shower gel / shampoo / conditioner (you may want to opt for sun protective ones like this one)
• Hydrating cream for body/ face
• Deodorant
• Brush/ comb /hair detangler for kids
• Dental kit
• Shaving kit
• Feminine hygiene products
• Tweezers
• Makeup and fragrance if using
• nice to have travel accessories such as eye mask, travel pillow, earplugs

Best shoes for Abu Dhabi

The best shoes to pack for Abu Dhabi are:

Good walking sandals – I love sandals by Teva which are very good for walking, versatile and stylish

Closed shoes for evenings – while you may be tempted to only wear sandals, always pack closed shoes too. They will come in handy for walking and are essential in some settings where open-toe shoes are not allowed.

Water sandals for the kids – our favourite travel shoes for kids in hot weather are sandals that they can use in the water and for walking. Sandals by Teva are among our favorite but crocs and clarks sandals also worked well for us.

Flip flops – for the beach

Packing for Abu Dhabi: tech and docs

Make sure you pack all your tech and documents essentials including:

• Passports and visa
• Travel insurance
• Health prescriptions/certs if needed
• Travel adapter for the UAE / international travel adapter
• Phone charger
• Spare battery pack
• Trave cord organizer (not essential but I find it so useful on travel!)
• Camera/camera card/charger if different from your phone
• Headphones
• Ereader / tablet / book

The best luggage and bags for Abu Dhabi

I find the best luggage for a trip to Abu Dhabi is:

Samsonite Omni Hard shell luggage with spinner wheels – nice, sturdy, wheeled luggage in several sizes

A good crossbody bag for the day, to have all your essentials.

Nice bag/purse for dinner / going out in the evening

Travel baby bag with baby essentials – this can be a diaper bag or just a standard backpack: I find these to often be better than diaper bags as better padded on the shoulders and more versatile.

A good toddler backpack + trunki ride on luggage for your little one

A good beach bag

What to pack for Abu Dhabi with kids: family essentials

A few extra item I recommend you pack if visiting Abu Dhabi with kids:

A good travel stroller –

If you are traveling with a baby or toddler a summer baby carrier that can take the heat and a day at a pool is a must

Water shoes – don’t forget Abu Dhabi has a wonderful water park and many many pools

If breastfeeding or expressing, don’t forget to pack a nursing coverup, a good travel breast pump and cooler bag for transporting your milk if relevant

Printable Abu Dhabi Packing list: pin this!

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