moeve

Watch out for the abaya - they are not the same. Do not just buy one online you could embaress yourself. Go to a store and tell them you are looking for something suitable for a business assosiate. You don't want to pitch up in something only the maid would wear

Hisgirl

Be sure to stay on top of the news as things seem to change quite frequently in the ME. Please be careful. This story comes to mind: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-co...-in-starbucks/

MSPeconomist

At one point, I had the opportunity to make a business trip to Saudi Arabia. I got as far as looking at the rules for visas. When I discovered that a permission signature from a male relative would be required, I decided no thanks.

There's someone (male) on FT, originally from the midwest, who used to post often in the DL forum and made several trips to Saudia Arabia for business from England about two years ago. I remember him talking about the expectations for a woman in his group. If you can find those posts, the information could be useful. I wish I could remember his username or details.

spagirl11

I am a westerner living in Dhahran and I hope that I can give you some helpful tips. I fly in and out of the Dammam airport on a regular basis and when in the airport, I wear conservative clothes; a tunic shirt that covers my elbows over long pants. 90% of western women wear an abaya, even in the airport so it depends on your comfort level. If you don't have one on, you might be the only one. Riyadh is even more conservative. I would bring a black abaya, if you can find one. Don't stress about how nice it is. I don't know who commented about a maid's abaya vs. a business women's abaya, but in my experience as long as it is black, you are good to go. You will need it for going out to restaurants and shopping. Western women at Aramco do not wear abayas at the office. They wear conservative business outfits with blouses that are conservative but not turtle necks by any means! Ask your sponsor to be sure. Closed toed shoes would also be appropriate with your business clothes. You will need a driver to take you anywhere that you want to go but you do not have to be escorted by a male. At restaurants you will be seated in the family section even in hotels and you should wear your abaya to the restaurant and while out shopping.

loridf

I agree with one of the previous posters. Having traveled to KSA about 5 times over the past 8 years here is my advice:
1) If you do not have an abaya, wear a tunic long, to your knees at least, covering your arms to below the elbows and neckline above the collarbones. Wear loose pants, and hang a scarf around your neck.
2) If you want to order an abaya, look for a saudi abaya, loose and flowing with maybe some nice embroidery or applicee at the hem and sleeves and matching scarf.
3) Have the abaya in the carryon. Watch the ladies as you approach KSA you will notice they get up and cover as the plane descends.
4) If you can wait to get to KSA, you have pick out a lovely abaya in an abaya store, it's fun to show off to your friends when you get home.
5)Depend on your host or sponsor to guide you as to when to wear the abaya in public.
6) Riyadh is very conservative, most wear black abayas. Jeddah less so, colorful abayas are becoming more common
7) It's nice to still have long tunic or something to throw over exercise clothes if you are going through the hotel to the ladies' gym.
8)If you can get yourself invited to an all ladies' party, DO IT. It's lots of fun and you will be treated to the gorgeous clothing, Saudi ladies wear under the abaya.

moeve

I made that comment about the abaya and I said because it actually happened to me. My sponsors wife who came along to pick me up at the airport told me we would go shopping first before I could go to business meetings. She commented that even though the abaya was of a good quality it would just not do and would "harm" my position which in the Saudi world is already difficult by just being a lady.

GUWonder

It sounds like she wanted to take you around. Did she also pay for the abaya at the shopping center?

moeve

No but she had a point what I bought in Saudi was much better

Annalisa12

I read in a book where a Saudi woman said that western women dress to impress men, however in Saudi women dress to impress other women as they are the only ones that see their regular clothes at parties, homes etc without their hijab (or the correct name). She said folks would be scandalised at what was worn underneath.

chgoeditor

In KSA it's known as an abaya.

I'd disagree with the assertion that all western women dress to impress men -- I know plenty who dress to impress other women.

There's some truth to the comment about Saudi women dressing to impress other women, but as with the assertion about western women, it's a generalization. Some do, some don't and it would certainly depend on how conservative or liberal the woman is and whether she and her family/friends generally adhere to gender segregation at private social events or if they socialize in mixed company. Then again, it's been 30 years since I lived in Saudi Arabia, so maybe one of our female Saudi FTers can weigh in.

On a related note, I always found it amusing to see all the fantastically dressed Saudi women who'd board a KSA-bound plane at JFK or LHR or AMS or CDG. If you fell asleep during the flight and woke up before landing, you'd think you were in sci fi movie where all of the Saudi women in haute couture who boarded had been replaced mid-flight with their doppelgangers dressed in all black*.


(*From what I've seen, abaya fashions have changed radically in the 30 years since I lived in Saudi and are far more varied and colorful than the relatively shapeless all-black cloaks in the 1980s, so I suspect this experience no longer holds true.)

MoreMilesPlease

I worked in the medical field. Most pf my patients were traditional Bedouins. During the summer most would wear as little as possible under the abaya. I mean only the thinnest cotton nightgown. It is scorching hot in Riyadh!

As a westerner we would wear whatever we wanted under the abaya. That was the whole purpose of the abaya. I remember standing at Mr. Burger ordering a burger and fries and thinking I felt a draft. Sure enough my abaya was ripped in back and my legs were pretty exposed since I had on a denim mini skirt! No harm done. Quietly retreated to the family section and the employees brought mt food to me.