What to Wear in Dubai and Al Maha – Packing List

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt USD-1386414140 ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

I was gone for 9 days on my trip to Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa and Dubai, and I packed for the whole trip in just a carry on! I am on #teamcarryon for life after packing a ridiculous amount on my honeymoon 12 years ago. So, how did I do it, and what to wear in Dubai?

I have spent very little time in Dubai prior to this trip – just a one-night overnight on our way back from the Maldives. For that reason, I don’t feel that I packed as well as I could have.

What to pack for 9 days in Dubai

On a longer trip like this in a carry on, I plan to do laundry one time in my destination, and I plan to re-wear clothes one time each. I pack enough underwear, socks, etc to last me without laundering, and because they are small.

I packed:

  • 1 maxi dress
  • 3 knee-length dresses
  • 1 blouse and leggings (worn on the plane)
  • 1 cardigan (worn on the plane)
  • 1 pair of pajamas
  • 1 pair of Rothy’s slip-on sneakers (worn on the plane)
  • 1 pair of sandals
  • 2 swimsuits
  • 1 coverup

I’m certain I packed other clothes, but it appears that is all I actually wore – and I wore the blouse/leggings more times than I was planning because of my somewhat-poor planning.

So, which are my favorites?

blue dress worn at Al Maha in Dubai
In retrospect, I felt too exposed in this dress, but it is super comfortable and I love it
I love this dress so much, I bought it in 3 more colors…that’s right, I have the same dress in 4 colors.
Al Maha Dubai swimsuit
My favorite suit I own
Al Maha Dubai swimsuit
So flattering, but one pieces always annoy me a bit

What to Wear in Dubai – What I Wish I Would Have Packed

I wish I would have packed a lightweight, loose pair of pants. I would have worn these on the camel ride as well as on the hot air balloon ride, and possibly on our day trip to Dubai as well. I had a pair of ponte leggings, but they felt too heavy for the hot weather and I wish I had worn something more moveable.

When it comes to what to wear in Dubai, think about your planned activities. I should have packed a pair of shorts and a tshirt for some of the activities. I didn’t plan properly and wasn’t thinking about what kind of clothing was appropriate for archery or riding 4 wheelers. I ended up wearing what I had brought for pajamas for both those events (which was a tshirt and a pair of soft shorts…a bit shorter than I would normally wear in public, but desperate times…)

I also wish I had packed less revealing dresses. The UAE is a fairly liberal Muslim country, but I still like to be respectful of local customs when I travel, and in retrospect, I only felt really comfortable in one of my dresses…the one that happened to be knee-length.

Want more tips and lessons learned from my trip to Al Maha and Dubai? Check out our insider’s guide on how to plan the perfect trip:

Ashley
Ashley
I'm Ashley, the founder of Wanderlux and a travel junkie. When I'm not at home near Seattle, Washington, you can find me on the beach in Mexico or traveling the world. Wherever I am, I aim to travel respectfully, show my kids new things, and learn more than I teach.

Related Stories

Discover

Best Luxury Santorini Travel Guide – Food, Hotels, Tours

The picturesque island of Santorini, Greece - home of blue-domed churches, dramatic cliffs, picturesque...

Real Review of a Flying Dress Photoshoot in Santorini

When I travel, I’m always looking for a unique experience or way to remember...

Emirates First Class Newark EWR to Athens ATH Review

https://youtu.be/zIVvOvGuYcI Let me start by saying I will go several hours out of my way...

Best Luxury Travel Accessories for Men – 2023 Gift...

A few years ago, my husband was always on the road. He spent years...

Visiting Seattle in January – Best Things to Do...

Visiting Seattle in January? Hear me out!! I know, it’s the middle of winter....

18 Romantic Day Trip Getaways in Washington State

It’s hard not to fall in love with Washington, with its stunning mix of...

Popular Categories

Affiliate Policy

This website uses affiliate links. If you click on a link, we may make a small commission at no cost to you.

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here