UAE to crack down on skimpy dressers
Federal authorities in Abu Dhabi are poised to introduce a dress code for the UAE.
The law, if approved, would enforce a dress code in public places, including shopping malls, although Emirati cultural authorities say it would have little impact on tourism.
The law would not stop tourists wearing swimwear on beaches or shorts in places where they are unlikely to mix with families or others who may be offended.
Dr Fatima Al Sayegh, a member of the Dubai Cultural Council, quoted by The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi, said the law was "long overdue" and urgently needed.
"It is about time for this law because the things we see in streets, and malls – it is not appropriate for a Muslim country," Dr Al Sayegh said.
"People go on holiday for culture, shopping, to see heritage, not to go and get naked.
"Don’t people go to Malaysia? They stick to dressing modestly there."
Gaurav Sinha, founder and managing director of the Dubai travel-branding company Insignia, said the problem was not that expatriates disrespected the culture but that they were unaware of the policies in place.
While some hotels include a cultural guide in guests’ rooms, Sinha said not all of them informed tourists effectively about local sensitivities.
Ian Jarrett
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