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Snowed In · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

What is the proper dress code for girls under 10 years of age? Can they wear shorts... or must they wear an abaya...?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Shorts are not appropriate

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

Uncle Scot is probably right.

However, once these girls become pubescant, I have heard they dress like right tarts!!! (amongst women only, mind you!)

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

depends on how short are the shorts. these days, everything seems open to interpretation. just ask obama.

007 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject:

trapezius · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:15 pm Post subject:

Depends which city you are in. No need for abaya, unless the girl is unusually tall for her age. As for shorts, not in conservative areas of the country, but in Jeddah, once in a while I get shocked to see young girls around 9-11 years old wearing knee-length shorts or ankle-length tights. (and sleeveless tanktops... and the mothers are ninja style) These same girls will be forced to hide themselves once they hit puberty, so I don't get what goes on in such parents' minds.

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Like trapezius, I have seen even the most heavily veiled women accompanied by young daughters wearing tank tops and shorts. I would say that for children - so long as they are clearly pre-pubertal - anything goes, at least in the cities. However, if your daughter is tall or looks old for her age, you might want to be a little cautious. No need for an abaya for another few years though!

Snowed In · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

Thank you everyone for replying. I now have a better idea of what is considered appropriate for little girls in Saudi. I did not want to be in a situation where a religious police attacted my daughter. I feel more relieved now.

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

Even at Aramco, only knee-length shorts are allowed. If I were you, I would not allow my daughter to wear short shorts or sleeveless tops under any circumstances. There are many men in KSA who would consider a ten-year old girl to be of marriageable age, and that includes both Saudis and guest workers. For your daughter's safety, you do not want to draw the attention of any of these men. Keep her in your sights and well-clothed at all times, no matter what you see other mothers (even Saudis) doing. I would recommend long blue jeans and elbow-length blouses, and nothing too tight.

Your daughter will be as safe(or safer) in KSA as she is in your own country, but the same dangers to kids exist in KSA. Pedophilia is not exclusive to the West. Molestation still occurs even in a country with Islamic law.

Some parents think that just because they live in a Western compound, they can let down their guard and let kids run around freely. My advice would be to watch her just as closely as you would in your own country, and never allow her to be alone in the company of men.

Snowed In · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 12

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

I finally get the question!!

OK, in Jeddah malls, it's quite common for girls aged 10-12 to wear t-shirt with jeans or even cropped 3/4 length pants (pardon the Americanism) with an abaya left open and their hair uncovered...

trapezius · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject:

^ Exactly, and sometimes, no abaya as well!

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

yeah well that's not too bad, 10-12 is pre-teen, hard to see any problems. But 13 and 14 would be the time to cover that up.