Mums in Dubai - advice please - clothes

[RosaHibiscus]

We live in Scotland and we will be moving end of august. We are now starting to think about what we will need to pack, but I am wondering about clothes. It looks like we will have to have a new wardrobe as we are going from one extreme (cold an rain) to the other. What do you usually dress? DS1 will be at school, so I will need to sort his uniform once we get there. But how about my DS2 who is 2? And DH (he will be working in an office)? Do I have to pack any warmish coats for winter? Sorry if this sounds like a silly question...

[mateysmum]

I'm not in Dubai now, but was for 8 years.

At the end of Aug it will still be VERY hot - over 100F every day. Essentially, you will wear summer clothes the whole year round. Best to go for cotton and other natural fabrics that breathe. I wore skirts most of the time as I found them much cooler than trousers, but sometime wore crops/linen or looseish trousers. Wear cotton undies too!. I can't remember ever wearing a pair of closed in shoes the whole time I was there and I now have a marvellous cupboard full of sandals that I hardly ever get to wear.

In the winter when the temperature plummets to 19 or 20c(!), you may need a light cardi and also the aircon can be fierce especially in the cinema. You will also need warmer clothes for return trips home, but you will not need a coat in Dubai.

For your little one, just lightweight, loose, cotton things. For DH it will depend on his company "uniform" my DH just wore trousers and short sleeve formal shirts. All the offices are air conditioned and so are a steady temperature in the low-mid 20's.

Don't worry too much though as you can buy what you need in Dubai. There is MnS, Debenhams, Next, Gap, H & M, Zara, Mothercare, Boots as well as lots of other brands from around the world. One thing Dubai is not short of is shops!

When you arrive you will feel like you are in an oven but it's amazing how you get used to it. If you don't already have them, you will need lightweight duvets if a sheet isn't enough but again there is Ikea for all that kind of thing.

Good luck with the move. for all its faults I loved Dubai.

[Ifiwasabadger]

Hello from Dubai!

Ok, here goes. For your DH it is completely normal work wear. He will go from a home with AC, to a car with AC, to an office with AC. Depending on his industry his style may change slightly. I wear exactly the same clothes to work here as I did at home...maybe a bit smarter. People dress well here.

Yes it is very hot outside, but until it cools down you will spend a lot of time indoors, so bring some cardigans etc for layering.

Once November comes it is lovely and you will get more use out of summer clothes.

Dubai is amazing. Any specific questions feel free to PM me :)

[habibihabibi]

I keep a coat and basic winter stuff here mainly for trips back to the UK and any baltic stop offs on route. After a few years >20c feels very chilly and I do wear a light jumper, boots and tights in the cooler months . The only time the children have needed more than the school uniform light fleece and shorts is on a winter overnight camp in the desert .
I would advise a big shop before you go as Dubai is much pricer but does have a ever increasing selection of UK shops. DH gets all his suits, shoes , ties and shirts in London ( is very picky) but I can get by with Zara , H&M Massimo dutti and Gap here and sprinkle in stuff I get online or buy in the UK sales /Primark when I am back . For the children I stock up on school shoes and trainers and loads and loads swimming kit in the UK .
I get Boden and Figleaves stuff delivered but there are loads on places who ship for little or nothing now.

[mateysmum]

Forgot to say, pashminas are really handy but buy these in Dubai. Ask someone to direct you to the Antique Museum in Al Quoz (you will wonder where the heck you are going) where they have more pashminas than you can throw a stick at.

[InTheSandPit]

Good guide here
mateysmum seems to have covered most of it.
I'm in KSA, but live in linen trousers, as I can't stand my thighs rubbing in the heat. It also avoids sun cream needs!!! Tops which cover your shoulders.
Kids will be fine in anything. If there is a chance of going back to UK for Christmas, have 2 sets of winter clothes in appropriate sizes,and a coat. Then go shopping when you get home!!!!
DH long shorts or trousers for the weekend.
Office, go and see. DH wears chinos in light colours, and a shirt.i d take what you've got office wear, and shop later.
Winter. I was in Jeans, with a fleace early morning to take kids to school. Jeans and tee-shirt for rest of day.

Sone with local knowledge: I can't get bras here, and even if I could find 34GG, I couldn't try them on. I'm stocking up in the summer. Is Dubai any better? it can't be worse

[mateysmum]

Yes I agree with habibi definitely get school shoes in the UK. The choice and quality of school shoes is limited in Dubai and they are really expensive.

your DH might want to make sure he has a couple of pairs of shorts at least as these are normal weekend wear for men. And yes everybody will need swimmies

[RosaHibiscus]

Thank you so much!
Fantastic tips.I am originally from the south of europe, but after so many years up north I can't really remember how it is like :-)
Another question, if I may: skinny jeans for the winter, yes or no? Do clothes need to be loose?

[idontlikealdi]

I lie ft a long time ago but the a/c was fierce - you will need light jumpers / cardigans etc for sure. I had a couple of cost hoodies too for evenings on boats / by the beach when it's not cold but can be freeze and feel a bit chilly if you've been in the sun all day.

Once the temp gets to about 21 it feels cold when you've been in 40+ for a while. I wore jeans and long sleeved tshirts where as here I would be busing out the summer clothes!

[mateysmum]

Yes, it's worth taking some jeans. I found them too warm, but lots of people wore them in the winter and as others have said, if you go on a boat trip or camping out they can be handy, but don't bring dozens of pairs! Also, imho, don't wear things that are too tight or revealing. It's highly unlikely anyone will say anything to you and you will see plenty of people revealing flesh, but I think it is polite not to and you may get stared at.

Honestly, in this move, try not to sweat the small stuff like the last pair of jeans that in the end will make sod all difference. you will have so much to do and adjust too, settling the kids down and moving into your new home.

Oh and don't be embarrassed at getting house help, It will transform your life!

[RosaHibiscus]

It looks like I will have a shopping trip once the sales are on! :-)
Over here I live on my skinny jeans and one or two more formal pairs of trousers for meetings/conferences - I work in academia a very relaxed environment clothes wise!

[mateysmum]

Will you be working in Dubai Rosa?

Generally the dress code is relaxed, but you will probably go out to eat more than in the UK and people do like to dress up in the evenings and for Friday brunch.

I lived in simple T shirts and cotton skirts and slip on sandals with a few smarter dresses for going out.

But for all but a couple of months of the year, you will die in skinny jeans. Until you are there, you cannot believe the heat. Southern Europe does not come close. You can stand outside at midnight and be dripping in sweat because it is so humid. Though you move from aircon to aircon, from Nov to April you probably won't have aircon on in the house (as you will need to mortgage your granny to pay for it) and the weather is lovely - mid 20's to 30.

You also need things that will tolerate a lot of washing and drying in the hot sun as you may want to shower and change clothes more than you do in the UK.

[SissySpacekAteMyHamster]

Definitely visit the Antiques Museum!

[RosaHibiscus]

mateysmums I won't be working for now... might do it later on, but for now the priority is to settle the family.

[habibihabibi]

Aside for the gym, I never ever wear socks and always forget to pack them when we head somewhere cooler.
I have used a brolly once in 8 years and I have down duvets which are still wrapped up along with an ice scraper.

My middle eastern born children are curious to what radiators are when we visit the UK, why it always rains , why people wear rugs on their bodies (woolly jumpers), why you have to pump petrol yourself and my personal favourite "why can't you valet park at Tesco ?"

[RosaHibiscus]

Brilliant habibi

[mateysmum]

Good idea. There will be so much to do at first.

Good luck.

[Ifiwasabadger]

I'll go against the grain here and at I live in my skinnies in the winter months. And I have a goose feather duvet on the bed even as we speak!

[InTheSandPit]

Just a thought after today, bring name tapes for new uniform!! Easier to source in UK and bring over than to try and find in a new location.

[RosaHibiscus]

Great idea, inthesand. Will do!

[Isthiscorrect]

After a few years you will be wearing guts, jeans, jumper, scarf and cost in the winter. There is NO heating in the winter and the temp can drop to 10-12 overnight. You will need to keep warm somehow.
For the rest of the year office, malls, cinemas, shops, all freezing, you will need pashminas and some sort of light weight top/ cardigan/ jumper.
Outside today was 42 and I wore a linen dress, and now, I'm wearing cotton to users, with a vest top and a floaty top over that. AC is set at 24.
To be honest, it will end up 80% summer clothes and 20% jeans. And if you have smart clothes bring those as everyone seems to dress up much more. And buy swimsuits/ bikinis that you know fit, you will need loads.
Get the best quilt you can afford, then you will be both warm and cool when needed, if that makes sense?
Good luck. If you need any other info just ask.
Ps just so you are prepared in August it will be almost 50 and you will feel like you are standing with the oven door open. However top tip, get everything, and I mean everything ready before you even think about opening the front door. And if you are buying a car quite a few models have AC you can set running before you get in to cool it down. Some models have cooled seats 😂😂😂😂 which are a godsend.

[mateysmum]

Gosh Isthiscorrect you really must feel the cold! In 8 years I never wore a jumper and only a coat if out in the desert/beach at night.

One thing I loved was getting up in the morning and never having to check the weather forecast before deciding what to wear.

The only possible exception was when George Bush came and it pissed it down for 3 days solid. The city would have ground to a halt, but we were all grounded for security reasons anyway!

We used a 4 tog quilt the whole time and found that worked well.

However top tip, get everything, and I mean everything ready before you even think about opening the front door. Agreed! And never leave the house without a bottle of water to hand.

top tips for buying a car:

1. Get one several times bigger than you think you need. There are reasons many people drive giant 4 x 4's. The drivers are bonkers. You want to feel safe on the roads.
   

1. Don't get one that's underpowered - or the aircon will never be good enough. I drove a 4.7L Toyota and that was not considered a big car!
   

1. I would advise against leather seats (against the grain with that view), 'cos they can get as hot as the centre of the sun - unless you buy one with cooled seats!!
   

1. Soon after you get there get a good cool box for the car or your chicken will be half cooked before you get back from Spinney's.

[RosaHibiscus]

Thanks! Fantastic tips. How do you do with the car? Is it better to lease or buy? DH will have his from the company but I will need to rent/buy/lease.

[mateysmum]

We bought our cars. They are way cheaper than the UK as is fuel. As a general rule I would advise against taking out loan/lease type arrangements on anything if possible due to issues around the laws on debt/defaults and the poor consumer protection in the UAE. Others may be better informed on what lease type deals are available these days.

[Isthiscorrect]

Agreed.. Buy a car, do not lease. It is much. Header than e uk. You do need to try dive a number of big cars, and you will want a big car. You will have visitors and luggage, half a dozen kids for football/parties/swimming etc, camping. Everyone ha say go at camping. Some love it and go regularly, otherwise do it once and never again 😂😂.
Don't list. To all the blather about bad diving, yes there is but just get on with it. Friday's are a good time to try if you're not a confident diver. And remember the Burj Khalifa is so tall you can see it from everywhere so you can always take a stab at where you should be. Just leave plenty of time to get where you want and don't panic. Absolutely everyone has been late for something 😂.
Digressing buy children's shoes, sandals, flip flops, trainers etc. They are poor, hard to find and expensive. Otherwise summer clothes all year round for the kids.
Get some rash vests in the slas in Scotland. Easy and safe to wear and super quick to dry. Although drying laundry isnt a problem. Lol.

[Isthiscorrect]

Oh my gosh. Please excuse all my random spelling errors!