Upcoming job interview in Qatar. My wife will join me on trip and was wondering what proper attire is for both men and women. Don't want to offend locals or culture. Thanks
All offices are cars are airconditioned and it is pretty cool or cold in the office. So your suit should be no problem. we leave our jacket in the car if we are outdoors or wear it when in the office.
People, I just wondered: If I am going to move over there, I figure the heat (50 degrees centigrade) would be killing me wearing my suit. Anybody in for some baked tyrolean? ;->
No, earnestly, how do you cope with the heat? I mean, over here the Temperatures barely rise above 25 degrees centigrade in summer and in Winter it's freezin' your tail off with a top - 40 degrees this Winter... So I am not really adjusted to a desert climate. How did those of you coming from a similar climate?
What about wear jeans, capri, shorts, t-shirts short sleeves, sandals ??? What about the hair ??? I heard woman can wear tops at clubs, is that right ?
Don and mugnaini - just my perspective, and perhaps to clarify a bit what "modest attire" or "nothing too revealing" might mean, in specifics:
Guys are easy...
- work wear = normal business wear as would be suitable for your job/ position in any western-oriented country
- casual wear = pretty much whatever you want (although sloppy casual eg ripped jeans etc might convey a bad image)
Women are a little more "difficult"... (no sideline comments required :) )
- work wear = again depend on the position, but assuming executive/office wear: at least skirts should be below the knee and no strappy or low-cut tops; long sleeves are best/safest but even short sleeved shirts are alright. I sometimes go sleeveless (but still not strappy) but then I always have a light cover as well (cardigan/wrap etc). Pants/trousers are FINE.
- casual wear = I am still finding the balance in this but I also had slightly more strict expectations/ information before I arrived, compared to what I see. I thought women would have to cover up (ie long sleeves, long skirts/pants) all the time but I see T-shirts and other short-sleeved styles a lot (probably more as the weather heats up again).
If you are going walking the streets or into the souks (markets) - particularly at certain times - then a female is well-advised to either be fairly fully covered up or to at least carry a wrap or something, but that in some ways depends more on your tolerance to being stared at. There is not any actual danger - just that a lot of the people there are workers who live in male-only dormitary-style compunds and work long hours and weeks so therefore rarely if ever get to see a female in any format... so the less there is to look at, the "better", in that sense.
I don't know if the previous comment about women not wearing pants is a more "traditional" thought or what, but I have never head that and see women in pants all the time. And, realistically, if you have to cover your legs, what options are there? Long skirts are readily sold here, but perhaps not so much in the country you are departing from... I wear pants/trousers 90% of the time (although I am not sure how summer is going to go!! :) )
In saying all of the above, I do see clothes here every week that I think are inappropriate, but it's not just a case of "well, I saw someone else wear it, so it's OK". There should be some level of sensitivity to the local culture (without going overboard). I guess it depends on the person's willingness to adapt and accommodate the local customs - I certainly try.
Nothing too revealing, I guess. I found that in actuality people seem more relaxed about clothing than what I heard before I came here. I would say nothing too revealing for day. But in the evenings at hotels, not so strict of a dress code!
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honestly, u don't come in contact with the heat as often as u would in other countries......every things air conditioned.
i think i felt the heat more back home..lili.
Tyrolean/Rene,
All offices are cars are airconditioned and it is pretty cool or cold in the office. So your suit should be no problem. we leave our jacket in the car if we are outdoors or wear it when in the office.
See you in Qatar.
People, I just wondered: If I am going to move over there, I figure the heat (50 degrees centigrade) would be killing me wearing my suit. Anybody in for some baked tyrolean? ;->
No, earnestly, how do you cope with the heat? I mean, over here the Temperatures barely rise above 25 degrees centigrade in summer and in Winter it's freezin' your tail off with a top - 40 degrees this Winter... So I am not really adjusted to a desert climate. How did those of you coming from a similar climate?
Rene
What about wear jeans, capri, shorts, t-shirts short sleeves, sandals ??? What about the hair ??? I heard woman can wear tops at clubs, is that right ?
Thanks Loki. I knew about the men's stuff but the woman's (for my wife) is certainly more difficult.
Loki's comment regarding ripped jeans reminded me of an instance when KLM lost our son's baggage and gave him cash to buy new clothes.
He went to The Centre to buy a new pair of jeans and was told that they had no jeans at all.
They had "sent them back" as they were all torn. This was when the fashion was for designer tears in jeans.
Don and mugnaini - just my perspective, and perhaps to clarify a bit what "modest attire" or "nothing too revealing" might mean, in specifics:
Guys are easy...
- work wear = normal business wear as would be suitable for your job/ position in any western-oriented country
- casual wear = pretty much whatever you want (although sloppy casual eg ripped jeans etc might convey a bad image)
Women are a little more "difficult"... (no sideline comments required :) )
- work wear = again depend on the position, but assuming executive/office wear: at least skirts should be below the knee and no strappy or low-cut tops; long sleeves are best/safest but even short sleeved shirts are alright. I sometimes go sleeveless (but still not strappy) but then I always have a light cover as well (cardigan/wrap etc). Pants/trousers are FINE.
- casual wear = I am still finding the balance in this but I also had slightly more strict expectations/ information before I arrived, compared to what I see. I thought women would have to cover up (ie long sleeves, long skirts/pants) all the time but I see T-shirts and other short-sleeved styles a lot (probably more as the weather heats up again).
If you are going walking the streets or into the souks (markets) - particularly at certain times - then a female is well-advised to either be fairly fully covered up or to at least carry a wrap or something, but that in some ways depends more on your tolerance to being stared at. There is not any actual danger - just that a lot of the people there are workers who live in male-only dormitary-style compunds and work long hours and weeks so therefore rarely if ever get to see a female in any format... so the less there is to look at, the "better", in that sense.
I don't know if the previous comment about women not wearing pants is a more "traditional" thought or what, but I have never head that and see women in pants all the time. And, realistically, if you have to cover your legs, what options are there? Long skirts are readily sold here, but perhaps not so much in the country you are departing from... I wear pants/trousers 90% of the time (although I am not sure how summer is going to go!! :) )
In saying all of the above, I do see clothes here every week that I think are inappropriate, but it's not just a case of "well, I saw someone else wear it, so it's OK". There should be some level of sensitivity to the local culture (without going overboard). I guess it depends on the person's willingness to adapt and accommodate the local customs - I certainly try.
Hope this helps. Cheers.
As was said before...modest attire never offends anyone..lili.
Nothing too revealing, I guess. I found that in actuality people seem more relaxed about clothing than what I heard before I came here. I would say nothing too revealing for day. But in the evenings at hotels, not so strict of a dress code!
I'd like to know too.