Qatar Dress Code: What to Wear for Men and Women (2026)
Qatar’s dress code is one of the most Googled topics by people planning to move here or visit, and most of what they find is either so vague as to be useless (“dress modestly”) or so alarmist as to be inaccurate (“cover everything or face arrest”). The reality is considerably more nuanced and considerably more manageable than either extreme suggests.
I’ve been navigating Qatar’s dress expectations for years, watched the norms shift as the country has evolved, and helped plenty of newly arrived expats figure out what they actually need to buy, what they can keep wearing, and where the real lines are. The honest picture is this: Qatar is a conservative Muslim country with genuine dress expectations in certain contexts, and it is also a modern cosmopolitan city where people from over 100 nationalities live and where the practical enforcement of dress codes varies significantly by location and context.
This guide tells you exactly what is legally required, what is socially expected, what is genuinely frowned upon but unlikely to create legal issues, and how dress norms vary across the different environments you’ll encounter in Qatar. It covers men, women, children, specific locations, and the Ramadan adjustment.
The Legal Framework: What the Law Actually Says
Qatar does not have a single codified national dress code law with specific garment requirements. What exists is the following:
Qatar’s Law No. 14 of 2002 on Protection of Public Morals includes provisions prohibiting wearing “indecent clothing” in public places. The definition of indecent is not exhaustively specified, which gives authorities discretion in enforcement. In practice, enforcement is concentrated on clothing that is visibly revealing rather than on anything that falls short of full coverage.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and various municipality authorities periodically issue dress code guidance, particularly around shopping malls and tourist areas, reinforcing expectations of modest dress.
The Qatar Tourism Authority has positioned Qatar as an internationally welcoming tourist destination and has been explicit that modest rather than conservative is the operative standard for visitors and residents in most contexts.
What this means practically: There is no legal requirement for women to wear an abaya or headscarf in Qatar. There is no legal requirement for men to wear specific traditional dress. The legal requirement is to avoid clothing that is so revealing as to constitute a public decency offense. The vast majority of normal Western clothing, worn with reasonable judgment about context, does not approach this line.
The General Rule That Covers Most Situations
Before getting into specific contexts, one principle covers the majority of daily life in Qatar:
When in public, cover shoulders and knees.
This single guideline handles most of Qatar’s dress expectations for both men and women in most non-beach, non-sports contexts. Clothing that covers from shoulders to knees is considered appropriate in Qatar’s public spaces: shopping malls, streets, restaurants, government offices, and most social occasions.
This is not a burdensome standard. It includes:
- T-shirts and short-sleeved tops (shoulders covered)
- Jeans, trousers, chinos, and shorts to the knee
- Dresses and skirts to the knee
- Linen shirts and casual summer clothing
It excludes in conservative public contexts:
- Sleeveless tops and vest tops without a cover-up
- Short shorts or miniskirts above the knee
- Crop tops exposing the midriff
- Very tight or body-hugging clothing that is very revealing in silhouette
This is the standard. Everything that follows is context-specific detail layered on top of this baseline.
Women’s Dress Code: Context by Context
Shopping Malls
Qatar’s major shopping malls (City Centre, Villaggio, Mall of Qatar, Landmark, The Pearl Mall, Lusail Mall) are the most visible context where dress code expectations are communicated to the public.
Most major malls in Qatar have signage at entrances requesting modest dress and some have staff who may (politely) mention dress code concerns to visitors whose clothing is particularly revealing. The standard is: shoulders covered, knees covered, nothing overly tight or sheer.
What this means in practice: a sundress with spaghetti straps without a cardigan is likely to draw comment at some mall entrances. The same sundress with a light cardigan thrown over it is entirely fine. Leggings as trousers without a long top covering the hips draw more attention than leggings under a dress or long top. Very short shorts will likely prompt a comment.
What this does not mean: head covering, face covering, abaya, or any specifically Islamic dress is not required for non-Muslim women in Qatari shopping malls. The standard is modest Western dress, not religious dress.
Practical wardrobe guidance for malls: Loose linen trousers or jeans with a top covering the shoulders. A midi or knee-length dress. A casual blazer or light cardigan carried for air-conditioned malls anyway (Qatar’s mall air conditioning is aggressive). Summer dresses with sleeves or with a cardigan. All entirely fine.
Streets and Outdoor Public Spaces
The street and outdoor public space standard is similar to malls but in practice somewhat less actively enforced. The Corniche, Souq Waqif, Katara Cultural Village, and similar pedestrian public areas are all governed by the same modest dress expectation.
In reality, you will see a very wide range of dress among Qatar’s international population in these areas. Western expat women in sleeveless tops exist in Qatar. They may draw looks, particularly in more traditional areas like the souq. They are generally not stopped or confronted. But the standard, and the respectful approach, is to cover up in public outdoor spaces.
In very traditional areas of Doha, including the old Al Asmakh neighborhood, traditional souq areas, and the streets immediately around major mosques, more conservative dress is strongly advised and wearing something that covers fully to wrist and ankle is not out of place.
Restaurants and Hotels
Qatar’s hotel and restaurant environment is significantly more relaxed than public streets and malls. Within hotel grounds, the international hospitality standard applies. Restaurants inside hotels are among the most dress-code-relaxed environments in Qatar. Pool areas at hotels operate under essentially Western beach club norms: swimwear is appropriate at the pool and beach areas of the hotel.
Standalone restaurants (outside hotels) should be treated similarly to malls: covered shoulders and knees is the appropriate standard. Fine dining restaurants at The Pearl and in West Bay are genuinely cosmopolitan in their guest mix and dress expectations, and smart evening wear including cocktail dresses with bare shoulders is seen and is not unusual in these venues. Context judgment applies: a bare-shouldered formal dress at a fine dining restaurant at The Pearl is different from the same outfit in a Madinat Khalifa neighborhood restaurant.
Beaches
Qatar has public beaches (the Corniche beach area, some municipal beaches) and private beaches (hotel beach clubs, private compounds). The rules differ.
Hotel and private beach clubs: Western swimwear norms apply. Bikinis, swimsuits, boardshorts, swim trunks are all entirely appropriate at hotel beach clubs. These are private property operating under their own rules within Qatar’s framework, and they are designed for international guests.
Public beaches: This is where judgment is needed. Swimwear at a public beach is not illegal in Qatar, but the expectation at public beaches where Qatari families, conservative Muslim families, and mixed community members use the space leans toward more covered swimwear or at minimum a cover-up when not actually in the water. A bikini at a quiet public beach will not typically result in legal action, but it will attract attention and is considered disrespectful to the community using the space.
The practical solution most expat women use in Qatar: use hotel and private beach clubs for swimwear. They exist, they’re numerous and many are excellent, and they provide the appropriate private setting for Western beachwear. See our best beach clubs guide for the full range of options.
Gyms and Sports Facilities
Indoor gym and sports facilities follow broadly Western norms. Sports leggings, shorts, and gym wear are entirely appropriate inside private gym facilities. Sportswear appropriate for the activity is accepted without question in private sports clubs, hotel gyms, and leisure facilities.
For outdoor exercise in public spaces (running on the Corniche, cycling in Aspire Park), standard sports clothing is appropriate. Running leggings and a sports top with covered shoulders is the practical standard for public outdoor exercise. Very brief running shorts or sports bras without a top are not appropriate for outdoor exercise in public spaces.
Aspire Zone has some of the best running and cycling paths in Doha and sees a full range of expat athletic wear. The standard there is relatively relaxed by Qatar norms because of the sporting context.
Government Buildings and Offices
Government buildings, ministry offices, and official institutions have the most conservative dress expectations of any setting you’ll encounter in Qatar. Both men and women should dress more formally and more conservatively for any government office visit.
For women: long trousers or a long skirt, a top with sleeves (short sleeves acceptable, long preferred), a scarf is not required but covering the upper body fully is expected. Avoid anything form-fitting, sheer, or revealing. In practice, business formal or smart casual that fully covers from neck to below the knee works perfectly.
For Qatari government offices in particular, erring toward more coverage rather than less is always the right call. Being overdressed in a conservative direction for a government office visit has no negative consequences. Being underdressed does.
Mosques
Visiting a mosque in Qatar requires specific preparation. Qatar’s mosques, including the State Grand Mosque (Mohammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab Mosque) which is open to non-Muslim visitors by appointment, require:
Women: Full coverage of hair with a headscarf or hijab. Long sleeves covering the arms fully. Long skirt or trousers covering the legs fully to the ankles. Closed shoes or being prepared to remove shoes at the entrance. Some mosques provide abayas and headscarves for visiting women who don’t have their own; check in advance.
Men: Shoulders covered. Long trousers covering the legs to at least the knee. Shoes to be removed at the entrance.
The Grand Mosque provides abaya and headscarf covers at the entrance for female visitors who don’t have their own. Even so, arriving already modestly dressed makes the experience more comfortable and demonstrates genuine respect.
Men’s Dress Code: Context by Context
Men’s dress code in Qatar is generally less restrictive than women’s in terms of enforcement and social pressure, but certain contexts have clear expectations.
Malls, Restaurants, and Everyday Public
For men, Qatar’s public dress standard is essentially smart casual as a minimum: T-shirts, casual shirts, jeans, chinos, and shorts to the knee are all fine in malls and everyday public settings.
Very brief shorts (above mid-thigh), vest tops or muscle tanks with bare shoulders, and shirtless dress are not appropriate in public spaces including malls, streets, and restaurants outside hotel beach club contexts.
In practice, men face less scrutiny and less comment than women for borderline dress choices in Qatar. A man in shorts slightly above the knee in a mall is unlikely to be stopped. A woman in the same length shorts is more likely to encounter comment. This is a real asymmetry in how Qatar’s dress expectations are applied in practice.
Business and Professional Settings
Business formal in Qatar is conservative professional Western dress for men: collared shirts, trousers, suits for formal meetings. In government settings and formal business meetings, a suit or at minimum a formal collared shirt and trousers is expected.
In the oil and gas sector and on industrial sites, specific workwear requirements apply: long trousers and sleeved shirts are standard as both professional and safety requirements.
In creative industry offices and tech companies, smart casual is the practical norm.
The Thobe: What It Is and Who Wears It
The thobe (white full-length garment) is traditional Qatari dress for men and is worn by Qatari nationals as their default professional and social dress. The thobe is not appropriate for non-Qatari men to wear as daily dress and wearing one as a non-Qatari, particularly a non-Arab, can read as cultural appropriation in the professional context rather than cultural respect.
If you are interested in wearing Gulf traditional dress as a non-Arab man, seek specific guidance from Qatari colleagues you know well before doing so. In general, wear your own cultural dress or standard Western professional attire.
Beaches and Pools
At hotel pools and beach clubs: board shorts and swim trunks are entirely appropriate. Going shirtless is fine at pool and beach areas.
At public beaches: similar principles apply as for women. Swim shorts are fine; very brief swimwear is culturally jarring at public beaches where families are present.
Dress Code by Location: Quick Reference
| Location | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping malls | Shoulders and knees covered | Shorts to knee, T-shirt minimum |
| Public streets | Shoulders and knees covered | Same as malls |
| Restaurants (standalone) | As per malls | Smart casual |
| Hotel restaurants | Smart casual to formal | Smart casual to formal |
| Hotel pool / beach club | Western swimwear fine | Swim shorts fine |
| Public beach | Modest swimwear / cover-up | Swim shorts fine |
| Government offices | Conservative, fully covered | Business formal |
| Mosques | Full cover, headscarf required | Covered shoulders, long trousers |
| Gym (indoor) | Sports leggings, top with shoulders | Standard gym wear |
| Public outdoor exercise | Covered shoulders in sportswear | Standard sportswear |
| Souq Waqif / traditional areas | More conservative preferred | Smart casual |
| Fine dining (The Pearl) | Smart evening wear acceptable | Smart to formal |
| Workplace (corporate) | Smart professional | Business professional |
During Ramadan: The Dress Code Tightens
As covered in detail in our Ramadan guide, dress expectations become more pronounced during Ramadan. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issues specific Ramadan dress reminders each year, and enforcement in malls and public spaces is more active.
During Ramadan, the practical guidance for both men and women is to dress one level more conservatively than you normally would. If you normally wear short sleeves at a mall, wear a cardigan. If you normally wear knee-length skirts, wear midi-length. If you’re at all uncertain about an outfit, choose the more covered option during Ramadan.
Common Situations and How to Handle Them
“I was stopped at a mall entrance and told my dress was inappropriate.” This happens, particularly to newly arrived expats or tourists in summer clothing. The interaction is typically polite: a security guard or staff member will ask you to cover up. Most malls keep disposable cover-ups (paper-like coveralls) at the entrance for exactly this situation. Accept it with good grace, cover up, and carry a cardigan or light layer going forward.
“I have a formal event invitation and want to wear a cocktail dress.” For events at hotels or upscale venues, cocktail dress is appropriate. Strapless or bare-shouldered formal dresses are seen regularly at Qatar’s hotel events and fine dining venues. If the event is at a traditional venue, a government facility, or if you’re unsure of the setting, err toward sleeves and knee-length or longer.
“I’m going to Souq Waqif and want to wear summer clothing.” Souq Waqif is a traditional cultural area and more conservative dress is appropriate. Light linen trousers and a short-sleeved or capped sleeve top is comfortable and appropriate. A sundress with a cardigan works well. Shorts and a sleeveless top will draw attention and is not the respectful choice for this specific location.
“My child wants to wear a swimsuit to the beach.” At hotel beach clubs, children’s swimwear follows entirely normal Western norms: swimsuits, trunks, whatever is appropriate for the child’s age and the activity. At public beaches, the same conservative-leaning norms apply as for adults, though children have more latitude in practice.
“I’m a man going to a government office and unsure what to wear.” Long trousers (not shorts), a collared shirt (not a T-shirt), and closed shoes. A jacket is not necessary but makes the formality appropriate. This is the standard that works in any Qatari government setting without question.
“My partner and I want to hold hands in public. Is this an issue?” Heterosexual couples holding hands in public are generally fine in Qatar, though sustained public displays of affection (kissing, embracing) are culturally inappropriate in public and can attract attention or comment. On this and all related matters, observe what you see around you and calibrate accordingly.
FAQ
Do women have to wear an abaya in Qatar? No. Women are not legally required to wear an abaya in Qatar. Non-Muslim women are not expected to wear one in daily life. Some women choose to wear an abaya for comfort or personal preference, which is entirely fine, but it is not required.
Do women have to cover their hair in Qatar? No, except when entering a mosque. Headscarves and hair covering are not required for non-Muslim women in any public setting outside of places of worship.
Can I wear shorts in Qatar? Men can wear shorts to the knee in most public settings. Very brief shorts above mid-thigh are not appropriate in public. Women can wear shorts in private settings and beach clubs; in general public spaces, shorts to the knee are technically acceptable but skirts or trousers are more consistent with local expectations.
What happens if I dress inappropriately in Qatar? In most cases in everyday settings, nothing. If you are dressed in a way that is particularly revealing, you may be politely asked to cover up at a mall entrance or similar. In extreme cases, particularly if combined with other behavior, there could be legal consequences under Qatar’s public decency laws. For normal expat and tourist dress, the practical risk of legal consequences from dress alone (without other aggravating behavior) is very low for most clothing choices that are merely on the informal side of modest.
Can I wear gym clothes to the supermarket after exercise? In Qatar’s practical day-to-day life, expats do this regularly without incident. Gym leggings and a sports top covering the shoulders in a supermarket are not going to create problems. It’s not the most culturally aligned choice but it’s not going to cause issues in the practical environment of a major supermarket.
Is there a dress code at Qatar’s airports? Hamad International Airport does not enforce a specific dress code beyond Qatar’s general public decency standard. The airport is an international gateway and sees passengers in a wide range of dress. Standard covered shoulder and knee guidance applies as a general courtesy.
What should I wear to a Qatari colleague’s home for dinner? Smart casual to smart. For women: a modest dress, smart trousers with a blouse, or similar. Nothing very revealing. For men: smart chinos or trousers with a collared shirt. Dress one level smarter than you would for a casual dinner out. Shoes will likely be removed at the door.
Can I wear religious symbols or jewelry in Qatar? Yes. Non-Muslim residents wearing crosses, Star of David jewelry, or similar religious symbols are not legally prohibited. In practice, wearing such symbols is a personal choice and is unlikely to create legal issues. In very conservative areas or government buildings, minimizing visible religious iconography is the more discreet approach.
Are there different rules for expat residential compounds? Yes. Within gated residential compounds, the dress expectations are generally those of the residents’ cultural norms. Swimwear around compound pools, casual dress in compound common areas, and Western norms generally apply within the compound’s private space.
What about beachwear for expat women specifically? At hotel beach clubs: standard Western swimwear including bikinis is fine. This is private property with its own operating norms within Qatar’s framework. At public beaches: more covered swimwear or a cover-up is the respectful approach. Most expat women in Qatar simply use hotel beach clubs for swimwear situations.
The Underlying Principle: Respect Without Performance
The best single-sentence guidance for Qatar’s dress code is this: dress in a way that shows you understand and respect where you are, without requiring you to be something you’re not.
Qatar does not ask non-Muslims to dress as Muslims. It asks everyone to dress with the awareness that they are in a Muslim country with cultural values around modesty that are genuinely held rather than performative. Covering shoulders and knees in public, dressing more conservatively in traditional and religious spaces, and adjusting upward during Ramadan is the full practical scope of what’s required from expats and visitors.
The expats who navigate Qatar’s dress code most naturally are those who internalize the principle rather than memorizing a list of rules: would someone who respects where they are wear this here? If yes, wear it. If you’re genuinely uncertain, choose the more covered option. Over time, calibrating to Qatar’s social environment becomes second nature.
Next Steps
- Review your wardrobe before arriving and ensure you have a few modest options for government offices and formal visits, even if most of your regular clothing is already appropriate
- Pack a light cardigan or scarf as a standard carry item, both for Qatar’s aggressive air conditioning and as a quick cover for shoulders in any context where needed
- Identify the hotel beach clubs near where you’ll live for swimwear occasions rather than relying on public beaches – see our best beach clubs guide
- Read our Ramadan guide](link-to-ramadan-guide) before your first Ramadan in Qatar for the full picture of how dress expectations change during the holy month
- Visit the Grand Mosque at least once during your time in Qatar – it requires the most specific dress preparation but is one of Qatar’s most architecturally stunning and culturally meaningful experiences
Last updated: February 2026.
Dress code guidance reflects general standards and enforcement patterns as understood in early 2026. Individual locations, events, and situations may have specific requirements. When in doubt, dress more conservatively.
Alzeenah – Your trusted guide to life in Qatar.