Job Discussion Forums

[anaxiforminges]

Pardon if this has been taken up in another thread, but I was wondering if there is a standard beachwear in Sharjah and Dubai? Differences between the two? Sharjah being more conservative of course might pose challenges to Western women going to the beach.

So, do women actually go the beach in Sharjah? If so, what do they wear? How different is it in Dubai?

[jdl]

The hotel beaches in Khor Fakan/Sharjah are bikini friendly but expect observers.

[helenl]

The public beaches in Dubai are usually OK but as jdl says, expect observers, and they're not discrete - they like to get "up close".

On Sharjah public beaches you have to wear a one piece that covers up as much of the naughty bits as possible. The observers there are usually even more obtrusive. I don't know of any women who go to the public beaches in Sharjah alone - they usually go with their husband.

[cmp45]

In my experience, women seemed to wear what ever they liked at public or at private hotel beaches. However as previously suggested:

Modest swim wear for public beaches; go in a group for added security

Seems almost anything goes at private beaches; there have on occassion been some silly women going topless, but think they were just ignorant of the rules; can go alone as hotel beaches are generally more secure.

Of course you will get unwanted attention at both private and public beaches....no matter what you wear or do ...just be 'cool' and ignore the stares

[ckhl]

On Sharjah public beaches you have to wear a one piece that covers up as much of the naughty bits as possible.

I went to the beach in sharjah for years up until very recently. On almost every occasion I saw women, young and old, wearing two-piece suits. The only harrassment came from gawkers, not any morals police. Never once was I harrassed for wearing a Speedo either. At the public beaches in Dubai would-be gawkers cannot comb the beach fully clothed. If they're not in swimming gear the lifegurads alert them to leave the beach. If they resist, plain-clothes CID quickly arrive on the scene to kick them off. I've seen this scenario play out countless times. I'm a beach bum.

[helenl]

This is from the Sharjah Decency and Public Conduct Rules and Objectives Booklet - first issued in early 2002 I believe.

WOMEN�S DRESS CODE
Indecent Dress:

Clothing that exposes the stomach and back.
Short clothing above the knee.
Tight and transparent clothing that describes the body.


2: RULES REGARDING PUBLIC BEACHES


Beaches are among the public places that people use for their leisure activities like swimming, or enjoying the scenery. Thus, it is important to make these places enjoyable and liked, so that people will not hesitate to use them. Therefore, all swimmers should wear conservative swimwear that is acceptable to the culture in Sharjah.
Do not wear swimwear in streets or other public places.

From the Gulf News http://archive.gulfnews.com/uae/about_uae/more_stories/10230049.html
" However, Sharjah holds different rules that prohibit women from wearing swimsuits on the beach.

It is also illegal for women to wear clothes that show their upper arms too much leg in Sharjah, and alcohol is strictly illegal."

You may indeed see women on the beach in two piece suits. I would suspect a large number of them are either Russian or Eastern Europeans who don't seem to care much for the country, culture, or its customs. However, if someone files a complaint, the police WILL act on it. Better safe than sorry IMHO.

I've also known two people who were spat on - one while running around the Sharjah Corniche in running shorts & T shirt and another by an Emirati neighbour for no apparent reason they could ascertain.

Both were men.

A speedo does cover the naughty bits, but might not pass the "tightness" test. Again, you'll probably be fine, but if someone makes a complaint, it will be followed up on.

[007]

[Pikgitina]

[anaxiforminges]

The reactions do seem mixed! I worry mostly about my young wife, though even I would probably chuck my Speedos in favor of longer swim shorts. I keep hearing over and over again about these ogling weirdos on the beach. Without trying to stereotype anyone, I've heard that most of these leering, sex-starved dudes are southeast Asian.

Has anyone ever felt actually threatened by an ogler or is the discomfort mostly psychological? With all the prostitutes in Dubai I keep hearing about, why don't these pathetic losers just get off that way?

[helenl]

I would be surprised if anyone actually tried to molest your wife physically - the penalties are too severe. Bothering white Western/European women would bring the police down on them hard. However, it's very, VERY, uncomfortable to be under intense, unblinking scrutiny by a group of anywhere from 3 - 10 men about 5 -10 metres away.

Dubai prostitutes are way out of the price range of these guys. They're lucky if they earn more than AED800 a month with most of that either being sent home or clawed back for visa (and other scurrilous costs) by the recruiter back in their home country for at least the first 3 years they work.

[MrScaramanga]

Those "pathetic losers" are exploited workers who cannot bring their wives in the UAE on their visas and, as Helenl said, are paid peanuts, if they are paid at all... They couldn't ever afford the services of the ladies working the steamy streets of Dubai.

They mostly come from Southeast Asia from cultures where staring is the norm to start with. That being said, it is extremely uncomfortable to be gawked at that way, especially when you're in your skimpies. I would recommend going to private beaches (they are pretty expensive though) or arming yourself with a lot of patience and tolerance...

Whatever works for you!

MrS

[anaxiforminges]

I did mean the "pathetic losers" insult to be directed at the gawkers, not the exploited population of Southeast Asian laborers as a whole, to be sure. In fact, one of the qualms I had about going to the UAE was precisely the knowledge that much of my comforts will derive from the sweat of these poor souls. I suppose it will inevitably end up being one of those "culture shocks" that comes with the territory.

My wife is already planning to wrap herself up in a body-length shawl and only take it off when actually going into the water. I doubt we'll want to pay big bucks for the private beaches.

[veiledsentiments]

But anaxi... the vast majority of the gawkers ARE the exploited masses. This is the only 'hobby' that they can afford on their minimal time off each week (often only a half day to a day - some, like hospital workers - get no time, so they have little gawking time). They certainly couldn't afford any of the working girls... for that, they have only each other until they get to travel home to visit their wife on their one month leave every three years.

The staring that we find so disconcerting is cultural to a large extent. If you travel to India, you will find that everyone stares at you... every man, woman and child. It is obvious that few, if any, Indian mothers have ever said to their children, "don't stare dear, it's rude."

So, tell you wife to try not to take it personally and learn to ignore it. Eventually you are able to do so...

VS

[MrScaramanga]

VS, I don't know how much of a beach bum you were when you lived here, or how much time you spent in your bikini on the public beaches of Jumairah, but I can tell you that my experience has been the exact opposite of what you write. I was much better able to handle the stares when I first arrived in the UAE. I find that I am far less able to ignore the gawking now, after eight years here...
MrS

[carlen]

McS I was the same I did use the public beach in Abu Dhabi, at first I just ignored them but it does get to you after a while. There are women only beaches, not sure where. I just fork out the fees for a private beach It's easier!
Another solution might be the 'Burqini' a Muslim swim suit I know you can buy in Dubai. I bet it still doesn't stop the starers.
I actually want to buy one of these because I hate the applying of sunscreen but love swimming. These outfits offer your skin great sun protection for the very strong summer sun here in UAE.

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/this-and-that/2007/1/11/21441/Burqini-Muslim-womens-reply-to-bikini