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Original poster

Oman / UAE & breastfeeding

6 replies

choccychipcookies1988 · 15/11/2025 08:52

Morning ! Does anyone have first hand experience of breastfeeding in the Middle East - specifically Oman & uae? I know Dubai heavily promotes breastfeeding but can you feed in public? Or only breastfeeding rooms? What about in hotels - would I need to go back to our room every time we fed?
PS this doesn’t need to be a post about the cons of Dubai - I am well aware and not 100% sure we will go anyway , just exploring options

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 15/11/2025 09:00

We only did a brief stopover for 2 nights when I was bf but the friend that we were staying with was adamant that I should use the dedicated rooms when we were out and about. We didn’t really go to the beach so I don’t know about there.

Even though it’s supposedly encouraged by the state, I felt like it was very much frowned upon and something to be hidden outside of my friend’s home. It’s not somewhere I would want to holiday for any longer if I was still bf (ours are teens now!)

Slothey · 15/11/2025 16:37

I’ve BFed in Oman. It was fine in the hotel, but I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing it in town. I’ve spent a lot of time in the ME so I’m used to the culture, and I’m a very relaxed breast feeder… but it would probably shock a lot of people just going about their daily business, which isn’t fair.

Slothey · 15/11/2025 16:44

This may or may not be helpful as I’ve not actually BFed there… but I have spent time in Dubai, and although it’s not my cup of tea I suspect it would be easier for BFing. You woild be less of a sore thumb out and about, and there’s more provision for kids/ parents in general.

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Original poster
choccychipcookies1988 · 16/11/2025 05:46

Thanks all. I think in reality we’ll probably give it a miss while BF as wouldn’t want to be in a position where baby needs milk and I’m not in or near somewhere appropriate to feed. She goes go from zero to 100 when hungry atm as newborn

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examadmin · 16/11/2025 06:02

We were in Oman last month for a holiday, and we live in another Islamic country. Oman is fairly conservative (particularly outside of Muscat) and I wore long baggy clothes, whereas where I live I can get away with tighter trousers and tops as it is less conservative. I would not have felt comfortable feeding a baby in public when they have such gendered worlds even when it comes to having guests to a private house, whereas I have seen locals (and ex pats) breast feeding where I currently live. If you are only going to a 5 star western resort then ok, but anywhere else you would need to take lead from the locals and feed your baby out of sight of men.

Original poster
choccychipcookies1988 · 16/11/2025 11:34

examadmin · 16/11/2025 06:02

We were in Oman last month for a holiday, and we live in another Islamic country. Oman is fairly conservative (particularly outside of Muscat) and I wore long baggy clothes, whereas where I live I can get away with tighter trousers and tops as it is less conservative. I would not have felt comfortable feeding a baby in public when they have such gendered worlds even when it comes to having guests to a private house, whereas I have seen locals (and ex pats) breast feeding where I currently live. If you are only going to a 5 star western resort then ok, but anywhere else you would need to take lead from the locals and feed your baby out of sight of men.

Thank you that’s helpful

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