Job Discussion Forums

[jtimbffe]

Hi, I will be arriving to teach at a university in September. Typically, I wear a long sleeve dress shirt, tie, and khaki pants (and shoes of course). Is this acceptable in Saudi? Or, do they want you to wear a full business suit? Thanks for any constructive advice.

[johnslat]

Dear jtimbffe,

Unless you happen to like wearing long-sleeved shirts and ties, there are few, if any, universities in Saudi that require those as part of a "dress code."

Usual male teacher wear is short-sleeve shirts, no tie, and casual trousers (khakis are fine.)

Regards,
John

[Deeman15]

How about going to and from work? Would you have to wear a hat and long sleeves cover your head and arms from the sun? I would imagine the UV exposure might not be healthy in the long run.

[johnslat]

Dear Deeman15,

Are you going to walk to work? Actually, I did since I lived only about a ten minute walk from the IPA in Riyadh. I never wore a hat or long sleeves (well, long sleeves and even a coat sometimes in the winter when it can get downright chilly there.)

But the OP was asking about a "dress code" at work, I believe. What you wear on the way there is pretty much up to you (as long as it's not shorts and a tank top .)

Of course, at work if you want to wear a "business suit" or more "formal" attire, that's also up to you. But you probably won't start any fashion trends among your colleagues.

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

In my experience in KSA the definition of "appropriate work attire" varied among employers. Best thing is to ask your employer before you leave home. Then there's no doubt.

MEB

[johnslat]

Dear MEB,

Do you know of any places where a business suit (coat and tie) are mandated?

I don't.

Heck, if I worked in such a place, I just might "revert" and wear a thobe.

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

[johnslat]

Dear MEB,

"But I've worked in places that required a tie . . ." (but not a Thai, I imagine.)

Really - well, I'm unfit to be tied.

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

Thank, John. I need some humor in my life these days.

MEB

[Grendal]

Dear John,

We should also remind the poster that wearing a thobe is acceptable in some work places. It was and still is accepted as formal attire at KSU. Although I am not quite the thobe man myself I do wear it on occasion and end up having a photo shoot with my students. Casual Fridays (Wednesdays) is also a concept that we try to introduce to our shebobs. The staff really like this but I'm not so sure about the management. We just casually ignore them on these days.

Grendal

[It's Scary!]

Feeling better since your last jewelry hissy-fit? We casually ignored that as well.

It's Scary!

[2buckets]

There is/was strong pressure to wear coat and tie at Abu Dhabi Men's College under the current regime. Women's dress code was also strict enough for some women to start wearing abayas, as the director could not complain about that.

I think that director is now gone.

[veiledsentiments]

Abayas? While teaching? Even the students immediately discarded them when entering the building in the past.

In my umpteen years in the Gulf, I never even owned an abaya... though my dress was always very modest. (the students would see my summer pictures and insist that I should dress like that when I taught... but I had to tell them that those clothes stayed in the US)

I don't think I ever saw a male teacher in a suit in the Gulf though some employers liked ties... probably the silliest piece of non-functional male attire ever invented.

VS

[johnslat]

We had an Iraqi Ph.D who would almost always wear long sleeves, a vest and tie, and occasionally a suit-coat.

Admittedly, he always looked very spiffy - but no one ever emulated him.

Come to think on it, it was only the non-western Ph.Ds who'd long-sleeve and tie it - guess they figured they had to "distinguish" themselves from us mere Masters plebs

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]