History Of Dress Code Cultural Studies Essay

The UAE is the fast changing counties across the world. The UAE has dress code based on respect for the culture and religion. As globalization increases the UAE has been addressing its apparels more than ever. UAE dress code is based on the traditional cultural ethics. The UAE have varying degrees of forbearance to clothing styles from around the world. There are some legal guidelines for which dress code is acceptable perhaps in today’s globalized world restrictions for clothing has been removed to some extent. Western expatriates, visitors and tourist have strong influenced the dress codes in the UAE, had diversified the clothing styles of people rather than conventionally dress code. Traditional clothing in UAE for men is a white Kandura (Dishdasha) and Black abaya for women (Dress code in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE).

Dress code plays an important role to understanding the customs and traditions of the country. The roots of culture prevails the religion of Islam which is more than belief. It considered as the aesthetic part of the living as per the cultural values and customs. The UAE apparels represent the importance of culture and tradition. Dubai is more advanced than the Abu Dhabi and other emirates.

The provision for the dress code has been inspired by the real life story of Asma al-Muhairi has become worried about the increasingly number of foreigners and western attire. She often saw the inappropriate attire of the foreigners which distract the cultural values of the UAE. These incidents inspire her to take action regarding the apparels and enforcing the law against the western culture.

History of Dress code:

The UAE Federal National Council (FNC) has been set up for the law on the dress code in the Emirates to ensure and respect the customs and sensibilities. Residents and tourists should implement the dress modestly conveying the cultural values. The campaign appealed to set the dress code by proposing the federal law enforcing the dress code against the inappropriate dress code in the UAE. The agenda behind the implementing the dress code is to aware the residents and localities supporting to the Muslim culture and foreigners should respect the traditions and culture of the country. This law strengthens the nation’s atmosphere of tolerance. The campaign not only lies the clothing also stated the fearing the loss of the regional, social and cultural values due to the immigrants of other countries across the world. They stated that resident have to respect their local culture for transit the values to the next generation of Emirates.

The UAE dress code has initiated by the two emirates women- Hanan Al Rayes and Asma AL Muhairi started the campaign at the prospect of foreigners dress in appropriate apparel. This campaign started in the Gulf countries of UAE and Qatar intended to spread awareness in the emigrant communities for appropriate dressing attire opposes to the western culture and supports to the Islam culture on apparels. The campaign aims to educating the people rather than the enforceable by law. The Qatari campaign initiated by the Najla Al Mahmud (Dress code in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE).

Importance of the dress code in the UAE:

The UAE residents and expatriates need to implement the law of dress code in the context of conventional beliefs. The application of dress code in the country has strong influence on the people to transit the cultural values and Muslim religion. There are significant role of the code of dress code are as follows-

Dress code represents the Ethical and cultural orientation.

To maintain the discipline at the workplace.

Helps to understand the conventional beliefs and values.

The dress code is a matter of respect for the residents.

Source: http://www.themuslimtimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/UAE-Dress-Code.jpg

The UAE can be resembled its dress code to represent the country in disciplined manner, to make significant as per the cultural prospective. The dress code in the country that outlines the local traditions and supported the federal law by effectively enforce the law for tourist and residents against the wearing the non ethical attire. Some examples of dress code are as follows-

Work place dress code-

At the work place means are expected to wear the attire a smart shirt with trousers with a neck tie. Suits are suitable for the professionals of high profile. While women expected to wear knee length skirts or full length trousers and shirts with sleeves covers the upper arms should be dressed conventionally in moderate fashion to gain the attention at their respective workplace.

An appropriate dress code in Muslim country is an important aspect and recommended to dress conservatively. In Bahrain men restricted to wear shirts and for women tops without sleeves are restricted (Ameri, 2012).

Dubai male dishdasha

Source: (Dress Code and Conduct in Dubai)

Traditional dress code-

Traditional clothing for the men is white Kandura (Dishdasha) and black abaya for the women. Different colors also accepted in Oman.

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Source: (Kipp Report)

Dress code during the Ramadan-

During the Ramadan men and women should wear the clothes covers knees and shoulders. The attire should be dressed respectful in the context of the cultural values.

Dress code benefited for the people:

The proper dress code resembled UAE diverse form other countries across the world and represent the country in disciplined manner. The dress code transits the conventional and cultural values for next generation. The aims of applying the dress code to aware the people with traditions and cultural values. If the dress code will be followed by the residents at the workplace in appropriate manner as per the professional prospective such as board meetings and professional tours of the company. Same attire will reflect the higher professionalism in disciplined manner.

Opinions of people and Recommendation with respect of dress code:

The UAE dress code has attracted several peoples in the supports the idea to implement the dress code. Some followers support the ideas and stated that dress code is the matter of respect to attire adequately in the UAE.

Some followers state the religious prospective to expatriates to respect the culture of Islamic country in UAE.

Some focused on the changing the traditions in the UAE asserting themselves not wearing the traditional dress code anymore.

Some social media users against the restrictions and expatriate community.

Recommendation:

Adoption of the new laws makes facilitating the effective solution as per the diversified cultures in the country.

Freedom of expression is an important aspect and freedom should also be given to the people not strictly enforced by the law.

Conclusion:

The dress code in the UAE has demonstrated the cultural values and beliefs in the UAE. The code of ethics in the context of the dress code ensures the tourist to adhere the local rules and regulations in respect of the regional values but the globalized scenario has been changing the traditional and conventional beliefs in Middle East in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Though as per the analysis it can be concluded that the dress code implementation has strong influence against the increasing western culture and supports to the cultural values and traditions.