Emirati Women

     Picture this, you’re going to a spectacular beach resort with your husband and children.  Time to swim in one of the many amazing pools, wade in the Arabian Gulf, or walk on the beach.  Everyone puts his or her bathing suit on, except YOU.  

     Beach towels, toys, sunscreen, but not YOU.  Black abayah sweeping the ground covers your clothes.  Black shayla or hijab hides your hair.  Veil and black gloves?  Yes, if your husband requires you to cover your face and hands. 

     Good news for the Emirati women!  There are Women's Only Beaches!  So, they can take their children to the beach and actually wear a bathing suit.  They can go in the Arabian Gulf and swim with their kids.  No men allowed!  Also, most villas have a pool, so they can also enjoy the water with their children.   

     How hot is it?  About 103 F or hotter.  Maybe there’s a mild breeze off the azure water.  So, down to the beach you go with your children who are excited about frolicking in the surf and sand.  They run into the water and you find some shade.  Fortunately, there are tent-like canopies and large, colorful umbrellas on the beach and resort grounds so you can stay out of the sun.   

Hot in Black?

   

     I watched this scenario again and again in the Middle East.  My husband and I often went to resorts to escape the intense city heat.  In April, he took me to the Jebel Ali Resort and Spa in Dubai for my birthday.  It was so hot and humid that spring weekend that I stayed in the shade or immersed myself in the sea or pool to stay cool.  But the best parts was that the waiters served wine and food everywhere on the grounds!

Two Ladies at the Pool

     You’re probably asking, how do the Emirati women handle this?  Aren’t they hot?  Aren’t they annoyed or frustrated by their culture’s clothing restrictions?  I asked my Emirati friends these same questions and their answers may surprise you. 

     They totally accept and embrace their culture.  They are very proud of their country, their traditions, and customs.  To them, it’s easy to put on an abayah and shayla over their clothes and hair when they go out.  No need to get all dressed up each time, do their hair and makeup.  Quick and simple… 

Mom with her Toddler at the Pool

     

     However, if they are going shopping with their girlfriends or husbands, they look exquisite as they gracefully glide along with their sleek black garments swishing and sweeping around their designer sandals.  

     Their makeup is flawless and looks as though it was professionally applied.  Exquisitely lined and shadowed eyes, full colorful lips, eyebrows that are precisely threaded, and picture perfect skin.  But, what I enjoyed most were the fragrances wafting through the air after they floated past.  

     One afternoon in Abu Dhabi, I was enjoying an outdoor lunch at the Heritage Museum with my girlfriend, Sue, and her daughter, Lauren, from the UK.  We watched four jet skis racing up and down the Arabian Gulf.

     Lauren decided to take off her sandals and go for a walk on the beach.  Suddenly the jet skis came within inches of the shoreline and sprayed her with water – totally drenching her hair and long dress.  Then the jet skiers screamed with laughter and roared away. 

     However, the craziest thing is that four young Emirati girls were driving the jet skis!   How do I know that they were Emiratis?  What do you think they were wearing?  You guessed it…  Yes, they were… They were wearing their black abayahs and shaylas while riding the jet skis. 

Two Emirati Women Shopping

      

     When I taught at the Al-Mizhar American Academy for Girls in Dubai, I asked my young students how they felt about their traditional obligatory clothing.  Again, no problem.  Muslim females can choose to wear the abayah about the age of eight, but are not required to do so.  

     However, once girls reach puberty, the long black abayah and shayla are an essential component of their wardrobe.  Most of my students removed their abayahs and shaylas during school because it was an all girl’s school and that was allowed.   

     I met a young, educated Emirati woman who worked in administration at my husband’s school, the Institute of Applied Technology in Dubai, which was government controlled.  It was an all boys' school, but staff and faculty included both men and women.  No problem for this young lady for four years.  She loved her job and the school administrators valued her work, her credentials, and experience.

     However, when she got married, everything changed.  After the wedding, her husband informed her that she must now totally cover her face with a veil or hijab.  Big problem for her because the school had a policy of ‘no veils’ due to security.  Faces must be seen at all times, specifically at the entrance gate which was secured and guarded.  So, she asked for special permission to wear her veil in the workplace.  Request denied because of security concerns. 

     Guess what?  She had to resign a job she loved.  She had to quit her job because her husband and his family's tribe dictated the rules.  Obviously, her own family and father did not require women to veil because she had never veiled prior to this.  Seemingly, they were less traditional than the family she married into.  I only hope that she found a new job where she can wear her full veil and cover her face to satisfy her new husband and family.

Emirati Family at Global Village

     In Abu Dhabi, I taught ESL to a strikingly beautiful 18-year-old Emirati girl.  Young people tend to marry young in the United Arab Emirates.  So, she got married.  And, after her honeymoon, she sadly announced that she would not be able to continue taking English classes.  I was new and inexperienced to Middle Eastern culture, so I asked why she couldn’t return for the next ESL session. 

    Simple answer…  Her husband said so.  No more classes.  He told her that because she had a car and driver now, she could go shopping or out to lunch with her girlfriends.  But she could not attend school.  I kept in touch with her for years.  

     She’s still married to the same man and has two lovely children.  However, she never returned to class to further her education.  But this was in 2004.  Now, women are often more educated than the men in the UAE.  There are also more women in the workforce than ever before!   

     Only Emirati and Saudi women wear black.  Muslim women from other Middle Eastern countries wear colorful long robes and headscarves covering their hair.  About 65% of Emiratis wear veils or hijabs.  Some veils cover the entire face.  Other veils allow only the eyes to be shown.  

     But, many Middle Eastern women show their entire face.  How an Emirati woman veils or doesn’t depends on her father's tribe or her husband’s tribal preferences.

Family on Boat at Global Village

     Although there were many cultural differences between the Emirati women and me, I did find similarities and built strong friendships.  I so enjoyed teaching them, shopping with them, and having family meals in their homes.  But what I loved most was attending their weddings.  So much fun and so unique!  That is another blog story I wrote.    

     They are lovely, generous women who are mothers, daughters, sisters and most of all, good friends.  My admiration is sincere and I miss them.  I shared stories about my life, my family, children, and grandchildren.  They loved my photos of snow, autumn leaves, mountains, grandchildren, and all things American. 

     They all wanted to improve their English.  They want to visit the United States - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Disneyland.  

     Nearly every woman wanted to have shinier hair, better skin, get married, have children, learn to drive a car, travel the world, ride a bicycle, water ski, or snow ski.  Funny thing, nearly every woman wanted to lose the 10 pounds that we all want to lose!   

     So, you see, we’re not really that different.  We just don’t wear long black garments when it’s 105 F and sunny. 

Long, hot day at the Beach Wearing Black!