What to wear to an Emirati wedding

At an Emirati wedding, women guests dress in two layers. You arrive covered, usually in an abaya and shayla, and take them off inside the women-only hall, where the dress code is a glamorous, floor-length evening gown in any colour except white or ivory. Keep a shayla within reach for the moment the groom walks in, leave your phone in your bag, and plan for a long evening. The details below explain each step, so you arrive dressed right and at ease.

How does an Emirati wedding work for women guests?

Men and women celebrate separately, usually in two halls side by side or close together. Gulf News describes guest lists that often run from 500 to 1,000 people, with the women's hall the colourful, musical one and most men in kandoura next door.

As a woman guest, you spend the evening in the women's hall. The bride is the centre of it: she makes an entrance, sits on a decorated stage, and guests go up to greet her. Later in the night the groom, sometimes with close male relatives, comes in for a short while. The National notes that the bride's ceremony typically lasts three to four hours, and that the men's celebration is far simpler.

Because the room is women only, it is far more relaxed and glamorous than the modest arrival suggests. That gap between outside and inside is the whole key to dressing for it.

What do you wear to arrive at an Emirati wedding?

Arrive covered. Most Emirati guests wear a black abaya and shayla over their gown and take them off once they are inside the women's hall. The National's long-running Ask Ali column makes the same point: some local women wear a black abaya outside and dress far more openly once they are in the hall.

If you do not own an abaya, you do not need to buy one to be a polite guest. What matters is that you walk through the hotel lobby, car park or entrance covered. A long, opaque coat or kimono-style wrap and a large scarf do the same job.

• Covering: an abaya, or a long coat or wrap that reaches your ankles.
• Head: a shayla or large scarf; you will want it again later in the evening.
• Bag: big enough to fold the shayla into once you are seated.

What do guests wear inside the women's hall?

Inside, the dress code is full evening glamour. Gulf News describes a hall of guests in designer dresses, and a writer for The National recalled gowns that looked more red carpet than prom. Under-dressing is a bigger risk than over-dressing.

• Length: floor-length is the norm. Midi can work at a smaller family wedding, but a short cocktail dress will look out of place.
• Embellishment: beading, sequins, crystals and embroidery are all welcome. This is the night for them.
• Fabric: satin, chiffon, tulle and crepe all suit; choose one that will not crease badly during hours of sitting.
• Jewellery: generous. Gold and statement earrings are part of the look.
• Hair and make-up: done properly, because the abaya and shayla come off and stay off for most of the night.

Glamorous does not mean revealing. Ask Ali advises guests not to show too much skin, partly out of respect for the older women in the room. A beaded high-neck gown such as the hand-beaded draped sash gown or the satin corset collar gown gives you the sparkle without the worry. You can see more long styles in the evening dresses section.

Do you need long sleeves at an Emirati wedding?

Not always, but they are the safest choice if you do not know the family well. The room is women only, so many guests wear cap sleeves, off-shoulder necklines or thin straps. Families differ, though, and in more conservative ones a revealing dress is the wrong call even in a women-only room.

There is also one moment when everyone covers. The National describes how a change in the music signals the groom's arrival, and women put their shaylas over their hair and shoulders. If your dress is strapless, you will want something to drape over your shoulders too.

• Safest: long sleeves, sheer sleeves or a cape. They work for every family.
• Usually fine: cap sleeves or a modest off-shoulder line, with a shayla for the groom's entrance.
• Ask first: strapless, deep backs, high slits.

If in doubt, ask the friend who invited you what the women in her family usually wear. A gown with long cape sleeves, such as the beaded chiffon cape gown, covers you without looking plain.

Can you wear white, ivory or black to an Emirati wedding?

Avoid white and ivory. The bride's gown in the UAE is usually long, white and, as The National puts it, full of bling, and a guest in white competes with her. A Dubai stylist quoted by Khaleej Times adds cream to the list and warns that pale butter yellow can look cream in photographs, so pair pale shades with strong accessories or skip them.

Black is not a mistake at an evening wedding, but in a hall full of jewel tones a plain black dress can look flat. If you love black, choose one with beading, gold embroidery or a sheer sleeve to lift it.

Colours that rarely go wrong: emerald, burgundy, navy, deep purple, dusty rose, champagne gold and metallics.

Can you take photos at an Emirati wedding?

Assume not. The National reports that photography is typically not allowed at the women's celebration. Close friends sometimes take pictures, but only on the understanding that they are never shared publicly. The reason is simple: inside the hall, women are uncovered, and a photo posted online would expose them.

• Keep your phone in your bag, especially during the bride's entrance.
• Never photograph other guests, even in the background of a selfie.
• If the bride or her family invite you to take a picture with her, follow their lead and keep it private.
• Do not post anything from the women's hall on social media.

Hosts take this seriously, so it is the one rule worth following even more closely than the dress code.

What shoes and accessories work best?

Your gown will brush the floor, so shoes are mostly about comfort and height. Choose heels you can stand, walk and dance in for several hours, and check the hem length with the exact shoes you will wear. A Dubai stylist interviewed by Khaleej Times recommends short-heeled sandals or mules for long celebrations, with flat sandals for dancing rather than trainers.

• Shoes: block heels, mid heels or embellished flats. Metallics suit almost every gown.
• Bag: a clutch or small bag that can hold your shayla, phone and a lipstick.
• Jewellery: this is a night for statement pieces. Leave smartwatches at home; they jar with an evening gown.
• Scent: a good perfume is noticed, but keep it light; you will be greeting a lot of people closely.

When do you arrive, and what happens through the night?

Emirati weddings are evening affairs and, as The National notes, the bride's celebration typically lasts three to four hours. Timings vary by family, so take the time on the invitation seriously and ask the friend who invited you when most guests arrive.

• Arrival: you are greeted, shown to a table, and take off your abaya and shayla.
• Hospitality: Arabic coffee, dates and sweets are the traditional fare, according to The National.
• The bride: her entrance is the high point; guests then go up to congratulate her.
• Food: a large meal, often biryani and salona, and luqaimat, sweet fried dough balls, served with coffee and tea.
• The groom: he enters briefly, and women cover their hair and shoulders.

Gifts are not required. Ask Ali says you are not expected to bring one but it would not hurt; a box of perfume is one of his suggestions, and a card with your name helps the couple know who it came from.

When should you order your dress?

Give yourself at least three to four weeks if you are buying online. Pieces from Lianora, for example, are delivered across the UAE and the GCC in 10 to 15 days from when the order is confirmed, and availability is confirmed within 24 hours. That leaves time to try the dress on with your shoes and, if the size is wrong, exchange it within 7 days of delivery, as long as it is unworn and in its original packaging.

• 1. Check your measurements against the size guide before you order.
• 2. Order at least three weeks before the wedding, and earlier if you have several events that month.
• 3. Try it on the day it arrives, with your shoes, and decide quickly.
• 4. Read the delivery and returns terms first: exchanges only, no refunds, and altered pieces cannot be exchanged.