The big debate in the UAE is a recent discussion among the
government and locals who support implementing a law that will outline a dress
code. Those in support feel a lot
of foreigners run around here dressed inappropriately and this is disrespectful
to the local culture.
I do understand the discussion around respectful dress, and the
desire to achieve the balance. There
have been a few times when I see someone and wonder how they are comfortable
wearing certain things here. Sometimes
it is tasteful, other times not.
It is a fine line.
It is nice to feel good and look great, but I agree that
wearing your bathing suit top with a mini skirt to a shopping mall in a country
where the local ladies wear full-length abayas
is insulting. This is a holiday destination
with great beaches, but the local culture should be respected.
However, the proper implementation of a dress code will be
extremely challenging. What may be
offensive for one person is not necessarily offensive for the other.
How would a policeman who implements the law see it? Will there be consistency from one
police officer to another?
Impossible as this is completely subjective.
This is further complicated by what is sold here. It is no secret that Dubai and the other
Emirates have no shortage of shopping malls. These are full of every brand imaginable and every style of
clothing imaginable. If the
government doesn’t want people to dress inappropriately, then I wonder if they
would also stop selling “inappropriate” garments. It would be hypocritical to sell it. That would easily close more than 80% of all retail outlets
and take a big chunk out of the economy.
It would curb the worry of one minister who was quoted as
not wanting inappropriate dress to affect the children who witness it. In the context of the local culture, I understand why he would say this. However, it should not be sold to them either. The promotion of the fashion industry, which is
highly based on sex and looking attractive will need to be reconsidered here. Not only does this include the clothes,
but also the massive perfume stores, the advertising for it everywhere – in
magazines, on billboards on Sheikh Zayed Road, in pictures plastered on the
outside of Dubai Mall. And don’t forget those plastic naked guys that look like
they are diving into that fountain pool in the mall - they are either naked or wearing fitted clothing. Either way, I assume this would fall into the offensive category.
The Fashion Court at Dubai Mall, a favorite hangout for
locals, would be completely shut down on this premise. You wouldn’t put up a drug stand on a
street corner and sell to users, but request that they not use their drugs until they
are somewhere that drugs are legal.
The observation of drugs being bought and sold would give people ideas. Sexy pictures of people with drugs would only enhance this. Buy it, but don’t use it is challenging
to implement.
Dubai, and other parts of the UAE are big tourist
destinations. Once implemented, if
tourists feel it is too conservative, they may not want to come visit. Don’t under estimate the perception
that the media could create. This
will further hurt the economy.
They didn’t ask me, but now that I have broadcast my opinion, I would recommend before implementing a
dress code into law, the government invest in an education campaign. This has not been tried yet. Perhaps it is under consideration. Assuming the application of fining or
punishing someone for inappropriate dress takes resources, time and money; just
think of the savings for the judicial system.
And not just the money - would you prefer to have your
policemen chasing after people dressing inappropriately, or would you rather
they focus on real criminals? Education
is the key. Educate residents and
tourists, and insist that the security at facilities ask people to leave the
premises if they do not abide.
You could even generate some extra revenue out of it if you
wanted. Put up some “Appropriate Dress
Shops” at the entrances of the places where you are having issues. Send the culprit in there to buy
something if they do not have time to turn around and go back to their hotel to
change.
Everything I have read is directed at the way women
dress. This has made me
uncomfortable as I have also seen men dress inappropriately just as many times
as women. If men are not included then such a law could be mistaken
for the repression of women.
Just bare in mind that more material does not always equate
with respectable. I will never
forget a visit to Petra, Jordan one summer a few years ago. A male tourist decided to wear a kandura. It was a hot, sunny day. I don’t think he realized that men wear a white cloth that
is tied around the waste under these called a woozar.
He had absolutely nothing on under it. This is an image that is unfortunately
etched in my brain forever. Although
I try desperately, I cannot forget.
If we do see an education campaign, then let’s hope it is very thorough
in it’s directives to avoid witnessing such a site. Otherwise, you may find tourists
unintentionally insulting the culture in ways you never imagined.
