Yes people do need to be correctly informed before travelling. The trouble is, sometimes the people informing are not always correctly informed.
I opend this thread to initiate discussion around this subject in order to achieve a little more understanding.
Not many people have written here but perhaps many will read so the information is passed on and provides some food for thought.
I dont want people to feel stupid or embarrased if they have been like this in Egypt, I just want people to be better informed so they can be more prepared next time.
The other thing I want to raise is about the wearing of galabiyas outdoors.
I met a dancer years ago who wore a galabiya out everwhere with a scarf wrapped around her head. She told me it was cool to blend in with the natives. I dont want anyone to be under the impression that this is the case as it really is not. Egyptians in tourist areas are used to seeing just about everything from Kylie hotpants to galabiyas so nothing really shocks them anymore, but walking around Cairo in a galabiya is more likely to attract attention or ridicule and make you stand out as a tourist.
My mum in law has a selection of galabiyas from Saudi and so do I. We wear them around the house but never outdoors. Walking around in jeans and T-shirts is perfectly fine. Loose cotton sleeves maybe more appropriate in some local areas. It is not this strict that you must cover from head to toe.
Christians are not expected to cover their hair so this is not nessesary to do so and you are not showing respect by doing this, unless it is to a place were you are required too (and there are not many). Most visits to Mosques do not require covering your head either.
Is is pretty much the same in UAE Lydia?
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