Abaya standards in Saudi Arabia
My fiance and I have an opportunity to travel from the US to Saudi Arabia (we would get married before going to avoid any problems) but she is trying to determine what type of clothing she will need. Obviously she will have to have a few abaya to wear outside, but after looking them up online she found there's quite a lot of variety in how they are cut and colored.
I've been working already in the Eastern province (which is where we would spend the majority of our time), and I haven't noticed much variety in abaya other than some basic black-and-white patterns so I'm wondering if there are certain standards that must be observed regarding color and pattern. Are women allowed to wear colored and detailed abaya like we've found online, or does the KSA demand they be more conservative? Is there any difference across regions?
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What is abaya rule?
One of the steps taken by the Saudi crown prince was to get away with the abaya rule as he had earlier stated that the women in the country no longer needed to wear headcovers or black abaya as long as they wear "decent and respectful" clothes. Abaya is a loose-fitting, full-length robe symbolic of Islamic piety.What is an abaya in Saudi Arabia?
The abaya covers the whole body except the head, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niq\u0101b, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women also wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.Can you not wear hijab in Saudi Arabia?
Women wearing the Abaya and Hijab in public is no longer a legal requirement in the Saudi Kingdom as of 2019. However, by law, they are required to dress modestly meaning they should still cover ALL of the body in loose non-hugging clothing and not expose the chest area, arms, legs, and the waist.The ABAYA: Everything Female Expats Need to Know On What To Wear In Saudi Arabia
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