Smart Traveller

Travelling around the Middle East can be an exciting and inspirational journey.  At the same time, it can be an immensely frustrating and challenging place to visit, especially for women who are travelling to the region on their own. This can even put many people off from visiting the Middle East completely.

However, we would encourage you to travel to the region and put any concerns that you may have firmly to one side.

Using this guide will help you to feel more comfortable when travelling to the Middle East on your own, and will give you some pointers around how to dress and behave, as well as some great places to visit.

How to Dress

All of the Middle Eastern countries are Islamic states; therefore, you should follow directions from Islam with regards to what you wear. Modest clothing is the key phrase here, so you are best advised to leave any daring outfits at home, especially things such as skirts and tops that expose as much of your skin as they cover.

As a minimum, you need to keep your chest, shoulders, stomach, and knees covered up at all times. Options for you here are a long dress, such as a kaftan, or pairing up a comfortable pair of jeans – avoid skinny fits – with a cardigan or shawl type top. As it will be hot, give due consideration to the fabrics you wear, and consider buying linen garments to take on your trip.

While resort areas will have swimming pools, it is advised that you check what the rules are regarding bathing costumes rather than stripping down to your bikini and jumping right in.

Try to Ignore Men

You shouldn’t ignore men to the point of being rude, but you should certainly do so if they are harassing you to the point that you feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, if you are a woman of the western world walking the streets in the Middle East, you are going to stand out in the crowd.

Don’t keep eye contact for any length of time with any men who have their eyes fixed on you, and decline any offers for a tour of a destination. Learn some Islamic phrases so that you can admonish them where necessary.

To help you with this, ensure that you are aware of any places that enjoy ‘men only’ status. There are many cafes and restaurants that only allow males, and it is best you do your research beforehand so you avoid putting yourself in an uncomfortable position.

Enjoy the Other Side

Of course, on the other side of their being a lot of ‘men only’ locations, there are also a number of great places that are only open to women. This might be a similar café or eatery, or something such as a bathhouse or dance class.

If You Aren’t Alone

It is likely that you are aware of Middle Eastern and Islamic societies being conservative, so if you have travelled with a companion or a lover, avoid any shows of affection in public places, even something as innocuous as holding hands will see you in potential trouble and perhaps even arrested.

If you are an unmarried couple, for example, then it may be best to pretend you are brother and sister, if anyone asks, or say that you are already married.

Shop for Bargains

Shopping around marketplaces and bazaars is a central part of the Middle Eastern holiday experience, but be careful with what you spend.

For most stallholders, seeing a tourist is an opportunity to make money, so a street vendor in Saudi Arabia or Turkey is likely to charge you more for an item than they would a native, for example. The best way to tackle this is to respectfully but firmly stand your ground, and haggle them down to a price that you believe to be nearer what everyone else pays.

Don’t worry about this if you don’t feel particularly confident, as the traders will be expecting this, and probably enjoy it in many cases.

You have the top tips for getting around safely, but what about the best places to go?

Must See

The Middle East is a culturally rich area, with a whole range of places to go and things to see. We suggest trying to fit these into your trip.

• · Dubai – Perhaps the most famous Emirate, Dubai is a tourist hotspot and has much to offer from people all over the world, as well as a high ex-patriot population, meaning you will probably find yourself feeling strangely at home.
• · Mecca is Islam’s Holy City, and a place that travellers of all faiths should look to experience with urgency. You can truly ‘feel’ the meaning of Mecca as you walk the streets, and there are dozens of amazing buildings and sights to see, too.

· Jerusalem is another Holy City, not just for Islam but in Christianity and Judaism, too, and is one of the oldest, most revered cities on the planet, a place filled with reverence and an atmosphere that will stay with you forever.

Aisha Malik is an online content writer with a specific interest in Islamic clothing, such as the hijab, and how Western women should dress appropriately during visits to the Middle East and other predominantly Muslim nations.