Your Qatar Dress Code Questions Answered

The Qatar dress code is something we get a lot of questions on. Having lived in Qatar for a long time we know the country intimately and know all the rules about what to wear in Qatar. In this guide we answer your most burning Qatar dress code questions whether you are coming on a long layover, for the Qatar World or are simply wondering what to wear in Doha Airport.

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Frequently Asked Qatar Dress Code Questions

How do people dress in Qatar?

Before we get into how to dress as a tourist in Qatar it is worth looking at how local people dress in Qatar. The Qatari National Dress is commonly worn by Qatari Nationals and if you go to the Souq or to one of the many museums in Qatar you will see lots of people wearing the traditional dress of Qatar.

The traditional Qatar dress for women is the abaya. The Abaya is a black robe worn over clothes alongside the black headscarf known as the shayla.

Because of this a lot of people worry if you have to wear a hijab in Qatar but we will cover this in more detail below – so keep reading.

Also unlike in its neighbour Saudi Arabia you are unlikely to see local women wearing the Niqab – a face covering which covers everywhere except for the eyes or even a burka which is a full covering without the opening over the eyes, instead it uses a mesh.

Fact: if you walk along the corniche and see the iconic Museum of Islamic Arts building you may notice the the building actually resembles a woman wearing a batoola – a traditional Qatari metal face covering which isn’t all that common to see these days.

The Qatar National Dress for men is also worn frequently. They wear a white long thobe with a ghutrah (A traditional head covering).

What to wear in Qatar as a woman?

If you are wondering what to wear in Qatar as a woman there are just three things that you need to keep in mind

1. Shoulders must be kept covered
2. Knees must be covered
3. Clothing should not be too revealing or too tight

Overall I would surmise that as a conservative Muslim country your clothing as a woman in Qatar should be conservative too.

For a full break down of what not to wear in Qatar see this post.

Do you have to wear a hijab in Qatar?

When people used to come and visit us in Qatar the number one question we would be asked is do you have to wear a hijab? I think the reason for this is due to the national dress which is frequently worn throughout Qatar.

However as an expat or tourist in Qatar you are not expected to wear a hijab, headscarf, burka or any other national dress item.

If you are visiting other countries in the region be sure to check out our wondering what to wear in the Middle East post which offers a helpful country comparison.

Can you wear a bikini in qatar?

In answer to can you wear a bikini in Qatar the answer is both yes and no. If you are on one of the many beautiful public beaches or in other public places then you absolutely can not wear a bikini in Qatar.

However if you are at a private beach or in a five star hotel you may wear a bikini on the beach or around the pool. I would however still wear a bikini that has more covering than say a thong bikini to be respectful of local culture.

Note: even during the Qatar World Cup the dress code will be enforced so you will not be able to wear a bikini at Qatar World Cup Stadiums.

Can you wear shorts in qatar?

The answer to can you wear shorts in Qatar is yes and no, it really depends on the shorts you are wearing and the location you are at.

If you are in a Qatar public place such as Souq Waqif then you can wear shorts as a woman in Qatar however the shorts must cover your knees to be inline with the Qatar dress code.

I personally find it hard to find a pair of shorts that cover my knees that I find fashionable. Therefore I usually opt for a midi or a maxi skirt or dress instead of shorts but that is personal preference.

However if you are at one of the 5* star resorts then you of course can wear shorts of any length though again I prefer to air on the more conservative side even at the resorts.

Can you wear jeans in qatar?

Yes you can absolutely wear jeans in Qatar. However I don’t recommend it especially if you are visiting Qatar in summer.

The Qatar heat is high and therefore jeans are not the most comfortable thing to wear especially if you are heading outside. The only place I would personally consider wearing jeans in Qatar is in a mall or at the cinema where the air conditioning can be very strong.

Can you wear skinny jeans in qatar?

Now we know you can wear jeans in Qatar – what about skinny jeans? I would say you can wear skinny jeans in Qatar but it is against the ethos of the rules.

I personally would opt for jeans other than skinny.

Can you wear ripped jeans in Qatar?

The question of can you wear ripped jeans in Qatar is a controversial one. You can definitely wear jeans in Qatar but ripped ones may be against the rules.

If the rips on your jeans are above the knees then this would definitely be against the Qatar dress code rules.

Therefore I would recommend avoiding ripped jeans in Qatar outside of the 5* hotels.

Can i wear leggings in Qatar?

Similarly to the question of wearing skinny jeans, we also get asked ‘can I wear leggings in Qatar?” As they are tight fitting I probably wouldn’t wear them out in more conservative public places and they can feel quite hot.

However if you want to exercise in Qatar even in a public place then wearing leggings in Qatar is ok.

What is the Qatar dress code for men?

If you are wondering what the Qatar dress code for men is the answer is that it is very similar to the Qatar dress code for women.

For some reason many people think that the Qatar dress code rules and. conservative dress only applies to women in Islamic countries (check out our guides on what not to wear in Dubai and what not to wear in Abu Dhabi for comparison), however this simply isn’t true.

The Qatar Dress code for men says that

• Men must keep their shoulders covered
• Men must keep their knees covered

Can men wear shorts in Doha?

Bearing the above in mind any short a man wears in a public place should cover the knee. However if you are in the 5* hotel resorts then this is an exception to the rule.

What to wear in qatar airport

To know what to wear in Qatar airport depends largely on whether you re staying airside or coming landslide. For a full breakdown on what to wear in Qatar Airport check out this post.

What is the National museum of Qatar dress code?

The National Museum of Qatar dress code requires any visitor to dress conservatively as a mark of respect to the local culture.

This in fact is the dress code for all museums in Qatar not just the National Museum of Qatar.

What to wear to the Qatar World Cup 2022?

The World Cup is going to be the biggest event ever held in Qatar. If you are going to and wondering what to wear to the Qatar World Cup 2022 you need to ensure that you meet all of the regular Qatar dress code rules.

Authorities in Qatar have said that the dress code will not be laxxed during the World Cup. Therefore in answer to what to wear to the Qatar World Cup 2022 is that you should wear the same type of clothes as you would wear in any other public place in Qatar.

For a more detailed guide on what to wear to the Qatar World Cup 2022 please click here.

Have we missed your burning question about what to wear in Qatar? Then leave us a comment below and we will happily answer anything else you want to know about the Qatar dress code.