What Can I Wear/Not Wear? Do I Have to Wear a Head Scarf?

In Damascus, there is a great deal of diversity in the way people dress. You will see women wearing headscarves, women not wearning headscarves, and, only occasionally, a woman wearing a full burka in which only her eyes (or not even her eyes) are visible. Most men and women in Damascus dress exactly as you might expect them to in a big city in America or Europe. No one will be wearing shorts or short dresses and it is strongly advised that you avoid these. But people will often be wearing jeans and leather jackets. People tend to dress formally in Syria, so you'll also see a lot of business suits and dress shirts. It's good to pack at least one set of formal clothes in case we go to a formal event, otherwise you might feel out-of-place.

As international guests you will receive added scrutiny. Middle East Fellowship expects you to dress modestly and appropriately. Please don't bother packing shorts (unless it's your bathing suit!), short dresses or sleeveless shirts. Women do not need to wear headscarves but it would be smart to pack a scarf in case you need one for some of our visits to mosques and other holy sites (you can also buy one here). Anytime we visit a mosque or shrine we will need to remove our shoes, so bringing a pair of shoes that is easy to slip on and off (shoes, not sandals) is also smart.

The summer will be hot. Bring a hat or hats and sunglasses as part of your basic protection against the effects of the sun.