9 tips for women traveling to the Middle East

While some areas may have political instability, you can still enjoy wonderful experiences in the Middle East, which boasts beautiful tourist destinations with diverse cultures. However, female travelers should keep in mind the following principles

1. Tone down your individuality

You might be very expressive in your home country, but one essential advice for female travelers to the Middle East is to tone down that individuality a bit to avoid unwanted attention!
This doesn't mean you can't be yourself, but try to be more discreet. However, if you find it difficult to adjust, then the Middle East might not be the ideal vacation spot for you.

2. Avoid traveling alone

One of the most overlooked pieces of advice for female travelers in the Middle East is not to travel alone. This is quite important because Middle Eastern men, in general, are not comfortable conversing and interacting with Western women or women from other regions. Therefore, this is also seen as a place where women should not venture alone - a characteristic that attracts unwanted attention from the local populace.

When traveling alone, consider befriending someone of the opposite gender staying at the same accommodation and invite them to explore and shop together.

Always maintain the appearance of being married.

While this advice may seem strange for female travelers in the Middle East, it's not a bad idea to mention a 'husband' if you find yourself in an uncomfortable or uneasy situation, even if you're single.

If traveling with a boyfriend, pretending to be married is also advisable when in the Middle East. Under Sharia Law, women are not allowed to travel with men they are not married to.

Avoid displaying affection in public places.

One of the most important pieces of advice for women traveling in the Middle East is to refrain from openly displaying affection in crowded areas. While seemingly harmless to you and your partner, it can be perceived as offensive to locals. In some cases, it may even provoke strong reactions.

Destinations like Dubai are really strict in enforcing these principles to the extent that some cases lead to serious charges resulting in imprisonment. Therefore, it's crucial to respect local laws and keep such intimate behaviors behind closed doors!

5. Modest attire

An excellent way for women traveling in the Middle East to show respect for the local culture is by dressing appropriately, even though 'covering up' in hot weather can be quite challenging.

In general, women should cover from shoulders to knees, meaning capri pants to mid-calf or long pants and shirts with sleeves are acceptable.

However, if intending to visit a mosque, you'll also be required to cover your head with a scarf and wear a long cloak.

6. Avoid alcohol

Alcohol consumption is strictly regulated in the Middle East. Some areas even require special permits to be invited to drink alcohol at home. Therefore, female travelers to the Middle East should limit alcohol and beer consumption, or better yet, refrain from using them.

1. Always carry hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is a must-have for female travelers in the Middle East because toilet paper is often unavailable in public restrooms. Therefore, remember to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer and paper towels in your purse when leaving the hotel.

Some places even advise you to carry a bag for disposing of dirty trash during your travels.

2. Choose sightseeing spots carefully

Female travelers in the Middle East will find their trips more enjoyable if they carefully choose their destinations.

For instance, if you prefer avoiding dealing with extremely strict Islamic cultures of the region like Saudi Arabia or Iran, you might opt for countries such as Lebanon or the tourist hubs of the United Arab Emirates.

Of course, you still need to respect Sharia Law in these areas, but the local people are likely to be more tolerant than in other regions.

Respect local customs.

Female travelers in the Middle East will notice that respecting local customs such as gender segregation on public transportation or refraining from reading women's magazines like Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and US Weekly is a great way to avoid trouble. While these requirements may seem unfamiliar to Western tour operators, they still rigorously adhere to them.

From the aforementioned notes, female travelers should not feel discouraged about the idea of traveling to the Middle East. Almost every place has its own cultural peculiarities, so understanding what to do and not to do to adapt accordingly is essential.

***

Source: Travel Guide from Mytour – As seen on Vtv.vn