Job Discussion Forums

dareva · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 74 Location: almost there...

For those of us who (ie. women) need to wear abayas the moment we step of the plane in Saudi, I found a good website that sells abayas. There are many of these websites, but many sell fancy abayas and I was recommended to go for the plain black to be on the safe side! Cool

The website is www.2hijab.com and go for the 'simple plain black abaya', as a bonus it's also the cheapest one. The last time I looked it was on page 8. Good luck!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Prices are exorbitant.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

trapezius · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject:

Lack of front opening aside, prices are not 'exorbitant', as Stephen says.

The plain one is just SR. 130, which compares well with prices here, and is not much for something that will be worn daily. And some of the fancy ones are just around SR. 200-250, which is also very reasonable.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Where is Cleo when we need her? Our resident abaya expert!! (she is traveling... lucky her) I didn't think $34 was too expensive either. You can't buy anything to wear for less than that. Laughing

Hey Trap... is it common to have abayas in Saudi without front openings? The only ones that I have ever worn were the ones that they give you for mosque tours. The ones that don't even have a closure system so you have to hold them shut.

VS

trapezius · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

The vast majority have front openings, whether straight, or some fancy overlapping mechanism.

There are some without a front opening, but those are the really fancy ones with lots of work done on them, so you have to put them on over/through your head. They are so fancy, they look like long elegant dresses, so inside you could just be wearing PJs! And they come in a fitted style, with curves in all the strategic places, and even draw strings at the back to accentuate them even more! Razz

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

You can buy a cheap ready-made abaya in the souk or at the Taba Center for 80 - 120 SAR, price depending on if you get a matching scarf and on quality of material. You can also get beautfiul, made-to-order abayas for 400 -800 SAR on Sweikat Street (in Al Khobar). The cheap ones tend to fall apart quickly.

Most of the abayas in Saudi Arabia have little silver snaps sewn on to the front opening, so that it can be snapped shut from chin to toe. I have seen some with front zippers, and others that tie shut like a kimono or houserobe. One that goes over the head would be rare and rather useless.

Remember that fabric choice is very important because of the heat. And good fabrics that breathe are often costly.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

OP, as per your offensive PMs, women initially arriving in the kingdom of humanity are not required to have information such as the publically-required abaya. Newly-arriving women are understood to go find an abaya days within arrival.

And, yes, the first model is brainless as it is a plastic model!

Get a sense of humour. It'll serve you well where you are going. G'night!

NCTBA

Grendal · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:53 pm Post subject:

right. NTCBA is right here. my wife bought a abaya in Saudi after she landed. One can buy a elegent abaya or choose an low key one. as long as you make sure the material is an breathable kind.

grendal

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

Be careful of the little 'silver' snaps. They are not silver at all. If they are around your neck touching your skin and you are allergic to metal you will have big trouble with them.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:23 am Post subject:

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Post deleted

Grendal · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:32 am Post subject:

dear lizziebennet,

my frolıne felıne says: `no short sleeve shirts and all her students in her class wore long loose skirts. She wore dark pants but none of her students ever wore pants.�

hope this helps your war-drobe selection.

Grendal

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Thanks, I wasn't sure if we could wear pants... I have loads of tops but they are short sleeved, does anyone wear a vest sort of long sleeved top under their short sleeved tops of is that a big no no?

Still wondering if its ok to just wear an abaya lol... or would people think I'm wierd if I don't wear normal western office wear...

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

lizzie... I suspect that this depends very much on your employer. When I was at a women's college in the Emirates, the students removed their abayas on arrival and put them into their lockers. Expat women in the rest of the Gulf do not use abayas except rarely in some small conservative private schools. Most students also uncovered their hair. As to clothing, I would suggest sleeves to the elbow and skirts to mid-calf or lower. Trousers may be acceptable, but best worn with tunic tops. I found trousers to be way too hot to wear for most of the year and my employer didn't allow them for teachers, although students wore dressy (very dressy) pants outfits sometimes.

Again... check with your employer/recruiter... but I suspect that you may very well need a new wardrobe. I did... And if I read your posts correctly, you will be in a very conservative area.

VS