Emiratis to heed dress code abroad

Emiratis say their decision on how to dress would depend on where they went, and that common sense is the best judge. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

ABU DHABI // Emiratis say they will follow advice from the Government and think twice about wearing traditional dress when abroad to avoid unwanted attention.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has urged citizens not to dress in the kandura or abaya when abroad.

Emiratis said their decision on how to dress would depend on where they went, and that common sense was the best judge.

“It all depends where you are going and how you think the people in that country will perceive you,” said Omar Sharif, 34, who works for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

“In the US, not in a million years would I ever wear the kandura right now because I really think people are getting the wrong impression of Arabs.

“In the Arab world I would do it and even in Europe. I wore it last year on a trip to France and I got mixed reactions. Some people gave me dirty looks but others were very interested and kind.”

Mr Sharif said that the treatment Ahmed Al Menhali received in Ohio was unacceptable.

The Emirati was detained by police in the US state after a hotel employee reported him as suspicious with links to ISIL.

Mohammed Saleh, 21, who is studying in Boulder, Colorado, said he was appalled by the video of Mr Al Menhali’s arrest.

“It’s a situation of miscommunication, fear and overreaction,” said Mr Saleh. “This is not the type of world we’d like to live in, where you are judged by what you wear, especially as the people for which he was mistaken have already hijacked our religion.”

Mr Saleh has been in Colorado for three years and believes the Ohio arrest was an isolated incident.

He said he still felt safe and accepted in the US, and that Emiratis living there were glad to hear that Mr Al Menhali was recovering.

“We all were worried for him. We have a sense of community here, especially as this happened during Ramadan.”

University student M A, 20, said she chooses not to wear an abaya when abroad, regardless of where she was going.

“Abroad I would never think of it because I know that the repercussions are too high.”

She said knew of people who had been subjected to racial slurs and abuse, and some were even charged extra in shops because they were wearing traditional dress.

“Why would you even do it?” M A asked. “I dress moderately still but I don’t want to expose myself to what others might think. It’s unfortunate, but this is the world we live in where we are expected to be more culturally sensitive than others.”

Government employee Mohammed Al Nuaimi is planning to visit Barcelona over Eid. He wears his kandura at home but more western clothes when outside of the UAE.

“For me it’s absolutely more comfortable,” said the 43-year-old. “But what can we do? People used to find it very interesting but now they see it and they are given the impression that they are under danger.”

He is travelling with his wife and two children and has some concerns about attitudes in Europe.

“It’s very clear. I look Arab, my English isn’t perfect, so even if I don’t wear the clothes what will happen when people see that I am Arab? But maybe it’s different in Spain this year. We’ll see.

“All I know is that after the attack yesterday, I don’t want anything like that to happen to me or my family.”