The dress code for visitors to Oman comes down to this: the friendly locals won’t police what you wear, but it’s expected that we’ll dress respectfully of their culture when you’re welcomed into it. But what does that look like?
You’ll want to pack clothes that fit the following guidelines, for your daily use:
Breathable, but not see-through – it gets hot here, so pack accordingly. Go for natural fibers like cotton, so even while covering up, you’re still staying cool. Just don’t go with mesh or transparent fabrics that display what’s under the clothes
Don’t give Omanis the cold shoulder – both men and women should leave the singlets at home, and go for tees and sweaters that cover the shoulders. You don’t need to limit yourself to full-length sleeves – to the elbow is perfectly fine, and short-sleeved tops won’t get a second glance in the cities, but the longer the better for the more rural areas of Oman.
We don’t like short shorts – At YesOman, we often get asked about wearing shorts here. Shorts to the knee or below it are absolutely fine when you’re out and about. Channeling Daisy Duke? That’s a total no-no. Cargo shorts are perfect, plus those pockets come in handy for your water bottles and sunscreen.
And for visiting religious buildings like mosques, or areas like tombs, we step it up a bit:
Think about what you’d wear to church; something along the lines of business casual. What you wear to a mosque is a signal of your respect for the culture and religion of your host country, and worth taking time to dress correctly for. Omanis truly appreciate guests taking the care to do this.
Women visiting mosques will also need to cover their hair. You can use any scarf for this – but our top tip is to invest early on in your trip in one of the stylish, practical, and oh-so-versatile pashminas you can pick up for a steal at any Omani market (‘souq’). They’re a perfect way to cover hair, or add a little warmth to cool desert evenings or Jackie O panache to an outfit.
Summing it up, it’s pretty much common sense when you know what’s expected – keep shoulders and thighs out of sight, keep it comfortable, and keep cool. When in an environment with religious significance, take it a step further and a step more formal, and you’ll fit right in with the locals.
