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Dubai & Abu Dhabi Packing List for Women: Away, Béis & Calpak Bags, Modest Layers
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items The line at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque moves slowly at ten in the morning, and the woman in airy linen pants, a long cardigan and a silk scarf over her hair walks straight through while others get redirected to the abaya desk. This Dubai and Abu Dhabi...
Eight days across Dubai and Abu Dhabi means souvenirs, so I would start with a suitcase that has room to grow. This one is 111 liters and stretches to 132 with the expansion zip, and the hidden AirTag pocket makes a long-haul connection feel a lot le...
Béis The Large Check-In Roller in Atlas Pink
Full-length and made of real linen, so it covers the ankles that mosque and souk visits ask you to cover while staying cool at 78 degrees in December. The 32-inch inseam hits right at the shoe, and the patch pockets hold a phone and a card without a ...
Madewell Patch Pocket Flare Pant in 100% Linen
Gulf winter air is dry enough to make you reach for lip balm every hour, so the whole skincare kit needs to be visible at a glance. The clear PVC wipes clean after a leaky SPF tube and passes TSA liquids checks without being unpacked from a carry-on....
CALPAK Small Clear Cosmetics Case
If you are packing a week of layers plus desert-safari gear, this is the 104-liter checked bag I would pick from Away. The compression system flattens a stack of linen pants and long-sleeve tops, and the shell holds up to the airport baggage belts on...
Away The Large in Coast Blue
Rooftop dinners in Dubai look polished, and a midi that lands below the knee keeps you on the right side of local dress norms. I would pair this with a light wrap for the air-conditioned lobby and sandals that handle marble floors. Satin pleats pack ...
By Anthropologie Pleated Satin Midi Dress
A 42-liter carry-on bag for the Dubai-to-Abu Dhabi hop, with a roll-back bottom compartment that keeps shoes and the toiletry kit away from clean linen. The trolley pass-through slides over the roller handle so it rides along at the airport. Two nigh...
Béis The Weekender in Beige
A long sleeve with built-in UV protection is the easiest base layer for a desert safari, because dune-bashing and sandboarding leave every inch of forearm exposed. It is breathable enough for a 75-degree afternoon and covers shoulders for the mosque ...
Nike Swift Women's Dri-FIT UV Long-Sleeve Running Top
Pickpocket worries in busy souks fade when a hard-shell bag zips shut across your body. It holds a phone, passport copy, a card and lip balm in a 1.5-liter body, and the removable strap lets it ride in a suitcase too. The polycarbonate wipes clean af...
Away The Mini Crossbody
Dress it down with a tee by day or up with a bodysuit and blazer for the rooftop bar. The bias cut drapes below the knee and the elastic waist forgives a big hotel breakfast. It weighs almost nothing in the suitcase and does not hold wrinkles the way...
Madewell Satin Midi Slip Skirt
Emerald is the one color here that does not look like every other bag circling the carousel at DXB. The 68-liter shell expands about two inches, the divider system keeps shoes apart from clothes, and the 360 wheels glide over hotel marble. A good mid...
CALPAK Hue Medium Luggage in Emerald
The mosque asks women to cover their hair, and a large silk scarf does it elegantly without feeling like a costume. It also doubles as a shoulder wrap in the A/C and a sun shield on the neck during the safari. I would knot it on the strap of my cross...
By Anthropologie Large Printed Silk Scarf
The wrinkle-resistant Featherweight Stretch fabric is what sold me, because it comes out of a long-haul suitcase looking pressed. The rib-knit waist feels like leggings through an eight-hour flight and still reads tailored at a museum or the Dubai Ma...
Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant
Hotel bathrooms in Dubai are gorgeous, and some have a tiny counter. A bag with a hook hangs from the towel rail and keeps three mesh pockets plus a removable clear pouch for liquids within reach. The water-repellent nylon with a spill-proof lining s...
Away The Hanging Toiletry Bag in Salt White
Floor length with sleeves that cover the upper arm is the quickest answer to a mosque dress code that says arms, legs and shoulders covered. The detachable belt means you can cinch it for dinner and leave it loose for the souk. I would wear flats wit...
Anthropologie Floral Kimono Maxi Dress
Burnt orange looks great against desert tones in photos, and the key leash and zip compartments make it the bag I would hand over for the dune safari. It rides in front of you when the market gets crowded. At $62 on sale it is the lowest-cost bag on ...
Béis The Travel Crossbody in Flame
Dubai Mall alone can log six miles, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi and mosque floors add more. The full-length Air Zoom unit and extra toe room make this a sensible choice for walking marathons, and black pairs with everything in the suitcase. Wear them on...
Nike Pegasus 42 Women's Road Running Shoes
A long-sleeve maxi with a point collar is as close to a one-piece mosque outfit as exists, and the self-belt keeps it from looking like a tent. Madewell makes it from lyocell, which breathes better than polyester in the heat. Leave it hanging in the ...
Madewell Utility Tie-Waist Maxi Shirtdress
The desert safari day needs sneakers, a change of clothes and a towel for the sand, and this duffel keeps the dusty shoes in their own compartment. Navy hides the red-sand stains that come home with you.
CALPAK Stevyn Duffel Bag with Shoe Compartment
Desert nights in winter can drop into the 50s, and this soft jacket is what I would pull on over a UV top at the Bedouin camp. Thumbholes keep sleeves in place and side zip pockets hold a phone. It also covers the arms for any last-minute mosque or m...
Athleta Salutation Jacket 2.0
A 20-liter day bag that wraps open flat, with a hidden back pocket for the passport and a 16-inch laptop sleeve. A trolley sleeve slides onto an Away roller during transit. I would carry it for Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Frame since it keeps hands fr...
Away The Everywhere Zip Backpack in Coast Blue
UPF 40+ and long sleeves are the right answer for a Palm Jumeirah beach hour or a snorkel stop when you do not want a burn. It is designed to go over a swimsuit, and it dries quickly in the sun. At $62 it is a solid cover-up that works at modest beac...
Nike Swim Hydroguard Women's Dri-FIT UV Long Sleeve Top
Midday Dubai light is bright enough that I would not leave without a pair of large sunglasses. A shield-style oversized frame blocks glare off the sand and pairs with a headscarf for a classic desert look. I would pack a hard case since lenses scratc...
I-SEA Summer Oversized Shield Aviator Sunglasses
Oversized at 78 by 30 inches, so it works as a plane blanket, a shoulder cover for temple or mosque visits and a headscarf in a pinch. Cashmere packs small and feels warm in the chilled lounge. I would keep it in the carry-on and not the checked bag.
Madewell Colorblock Cashmere Scarf
A hotel with a small marble vanity is easier with a bag that hangs from the towel bar. The 3-liter Terra holds the skincare and SPF routine and wipes clean, with a wipeable lining for leaks. I would use it for the second bathroom bag when I want make...
CALPAK Terra Hanging Toiletry Bag
A wide brim shades the face and neck at a desert camp, and the bungee adjuster keeps it on in the wind. It crushes flat into a suitcase and bounces back, and the soft pink shows well in photos. I would clip it to the backpack when not in use.
Athleta Floppy Sunhat