What to Wear in Saudi Arabia: Dress Code and Packing Guide
What to wear in Saudi Arabia is clearer than its reputation suggests. Women visitors do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair, but there is a real dress code in public: loose clothing that covers the elbows and the knees. This 2026 guide sets out the current rules with sources, the weather by season and region, what to wear in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and at Red Sea resorts, and a packing list built around long, loose kaftans, dresses and co-ord sets.
Quick answer
Women visitors do not need an abaya or a headscarf. In public, wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your elbows and falls below your knees, and avoid tight clothes and offensive or political slogans. Long kaftans, maxi dresses and wide-leg co-ords meet the rule and keep you cool.
What is the dress code for women visitors in Saudi Arabia?
The UK government's current travel advice states the rule plainly: men and women must wear loose-fitting clothing that covers the elbow and falls below the knees, and should avoid clothing that is tight-fitting, carries profane slogans or images, or has symbols or slogans that could be seen as political. It also confirms that female travellers do not have to wear the traditional robe, the abaya, or cover their hair (UK FCDO travel advice).
The rule has legal weight. Saudi Arabia's public decency regulations, published on the official Saudi eVisa site, list wearing improper clothing in public places as a violation carrying a fine, alongside wearing underwear or sleepwear in public and wearing clothing with profane language or obscene images. The same document says that dress for visitors to the Kingdom follows the standards set for that purpose (Violations to Public Decency and Penalties, Saudi eVisa).
In practice, that gives you three simple tests for any outfit you pack:
- Are the elbows covered? Three-quarter or long sleeves pass; short sleeves and sleeveless do not, unless you add a layer.
- Does the hem fall below the knee? Midi and maxi lengths, or full-length trousers.
- Is it loose? The rule says loose-fitting, so skip bodycon, skinny jeans and leggings worn on their own.
A long kaftan, a maxi dress with sleeves, or a tunic over wide trousers passes all three in one piece.
“Think length and ease rather than extra layers. A long, loose kaftan or a wide-leg co-ord covers elbows and knees and still lets the air move,” says First Resort founder and fashion designer Ramola Bachchan.
Travelling during Ramadan
If your trip falls during Ramadan, the dress code matters more, not less. The FCDO advises visitors to follow local dress codes during the holy month because clothing that does not meet them may cause more offence at that time, and notes that Ramadan in Saudi Arabia began on 18 February in 2026 (FCDO). The dates move each year, so check before you book. We would lean towards fuller lengths and longer sleeves for the whole month.
What is the weather like in Saudi Arabia?
Saudipedia, published by the Saudi Ministry of Media, describes a semi-arid to arid desert climate with hot days and cold nights. Winter maximum temperatures across the Kingdom range between 20°C and 30°C, while summer, from June to August, sees temperatures of 35°C to 45°C; humidity rises towards the Red Sea coast in the west and the Arabian Gulf in the east (Saudipedia). The UK government warns that summer temperatures may exceed 50°C (FCDO).
That means two very different suitcases. From late autumn to early spring, days are warm and nights in the desert can be genuinely cold, so layers are essential. In summer, the goal is to stay covered and cool at the same time, which is exactly what loose, long, breathable clothing does: fabric that floats away from the skin shades you and lets air move underneath.
What to wear in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and the Red Sea
Riyadh. The capital is a city of malls, museums, restaurants and new entertainment districts. Dress polished and covered: a maxi dress with sleeves, a co-ord set with a long tunic top, or wide trousers with a long shirt. Neutral and jewel tones look right here; so does a single strong print. Add a jacket in winter for evenings.
Jeddah. On the Red Sea coast, humidity is the challenge (Saudipedia). Choose the lightest linen and cotton you have, in loose, long cuts. The historic district of Al-Balad involves a lot of walking, so pair a long kaftan with comfortable flat sandals.
AlUla. The Royal Commission for AlUla says the destination comes to life particularly from October to April, with beautiful weather and an extensive calendar of festivals and events (Royal Commission for AlUla). Those are desert months, with warm days and cold nights, so pack wide trousers and a long-sleeved shirt for tombs and canyons, closed shoes for sand and rock, and a real layer for stargazing and evening concerts. A sweeping maxi dress or kaftan against the sandstone is also the photograph everyone wants.
Red Sea resorts. Resorts set their own rules for swimwear at their pools and beaches, so check your resort's guidance before you travel. The FCDO dress code (loose clothing that covers the elbows and knees) still applies off the beach (FCDO), so keep a long cover-up, sarong or kaftan to pull on for the walk to lunch, the lobby or a boat transfer.
Fabric, fit and colour
The dress code asks for loose and long; the heat asks for breathable. Put the two together and the best fabrics are linen, cotton and viscose in relaxed, flowing cuts. Look for sleeves that sit away from the arm, trousers with a wide leg and dresses with room through the body. Check sheerness in daylight: a fine white cotton that feels perfect in the heat may need a slip underneath.
Colour is entirely your choice. Pale shades are the most comfortable in summer sun. Deeper tones and prints look lovely for dinners and events.
Desert camps, dunes and heritage sites
Many trips include at least one day in the desert, whether a dune drive, a camp dinner or a walk through a heritage site. This is where practical dressing pays off. Wide trousers or a long, full skirt make climbing in and out of vehicles and sitting on cushions easy; a long-sleeved shirt protects your arms from sun and wind; and a scarf is useful against dust and for warmth as the sun goes down. Closed shoes are far better than sandals on hot sand and rough ground.
For a camp dinner, change into a long kaftan and add your warm layer on top. Rich colours such as rust, olive, indigo and deep red look beautiful against the dunes at sunset, and a flowing silhouette photographs well in the wind.
Packing mistakes to avoid
Relying on a layer to fix a short outfit. A cardigan over a sleeveless dress works; a knee-length or shorter hem does not have an easy fix. Pack hems that already fall below the knee.
Only fitted trousers. The FCDO's wording is loose-fitting (FCDO), and leggings and skinny jeans fail the loose-fitting test on their own. If you love them, wear them under a long tunic or kaftan.
Forgetting slogans. Check T-shirts and bags for words or images. The rules on profane, obscene or political messages apply to what your clothes say as well as how much they cover (FCDO; Saudi public decency regulations). A plain wardrobe removes the question entirely.
No warm layer. Winter evenings in the desert and strong air conditioning indoors both call for a jacket or wrap.
A 7-day Saudi Arabia packing list
- Two long kaftans with sleeves, one plain and one printed for evenings.
- Two maxi or midi dresses with three-quarter or long sleeves.
- One co-ord set with a long top and wide trousers.
- Two loose shirts or tunics and a pair of wide trousers.
- A jacket or warm layer for winter nights and air-conditioned interiors.
- Swimwear and a long cover-up if you are staying at a Red Sea resort.
- A light scarf, sunglasses and a sun hat.
- Flat sandals, closed shoes for desert sites and one dressier pair.
The same capsule works across the Gulf; see our Doha guide for how Qatar compares.
Business and formal events
For meetings and formal occasions, start from the same general rule (FCDO), and in our experience a little more polish goes a long way. A tailored long shirt dress, a structured co-ord with a long jacket, or a column dress with sleeves in a heavier drape all read as smart and respectful. Keep jewellery simple and choose closed or elegant flat shoes.
Browse the vacation edit for long, loose pieces, or see all kaftans, in sizes XS to 8XL with international shipping.
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