Hijabs are not mandatory in Saudi Arabia. Since the Public Decency Law took effect in 2019, women, including foreign visitors, are not legally required to cover their hair in public, and the older rule requiring a black abaya and headscarf is no longer enforced.1Visit Saudi Official Website. Saudi Culture and Customs: Explore Saudi Stories Modest dress is still expected, and a head covering is still required at mosques and during pilgrimage, but day-to-day the hair is your choice.
What the Law Requires Now
The Public Decency Law doesn’t specify garments. It sets a general modesty standard that applies to everyone in public: loose-fitting clothing that covers to the elbow and below the ankle, and nothing bearing profane language or inappropriate images.1Visit Saudi Official Website. Saudi Culture and Customs: Explore Saudi Stories2U.S. Department of State. Saudi Arabia International Travel Information Hair covering is not part of that standard.
Enforcement now sits with the regular Saudi police, not the former religious police.3Saudi Gazette. Saudi Arabia Approves New Regulations Related to Public Decorum Fines are available under the Public Decency Regulations and escalate for repeat offenses,4Saudi Ministry of Interior. Public Decency Regulations but in cities and tourist zones officers usually issue a verbal warning for a first minor issue rather than a fine.
The U.S. State Department states the current expectation plainly: women tourists should cover their shoulders and knees but are not required to wear an abaya or cover their hair.2U.S. Department of State. Saudi Arabia International Travel Information That matches the guidance from the Saudi Tourism Authority.1Visit Saudi Official Website. Saudi Culture and Customs: Explore Saudi Stories
Where a Head Covering Is Still Expected
Mosques are the clear exception. Women visiting a mosque anywhere in Saudi Arabia are expected to cover their hair, with modest, loose clothing that covers the arms and legs.
Mecca and Medina apply stricter rules than the rest of the country, and non-Muslims are forbidden from entering Mecca and parts of Medina at all.2U.S. Department of State. Saudi Arabia International Travel Information Muslim women performing Hajj or Umrah must cover their heads as part of the religious dress required for those pilgrimages, which is a separate obligation from the general public decency standard.
Expectations Vary by Region
Saudi Arabia isn’t culturally uniform. Jeddah, the country’s most cosmopolitan city, is the most relaxed: women there are least likely to wear an abaya and most likely to wear colorful modest clothing. Riyadh sits in the middle. Areas like Al-Qassim in the central Najd region are noticeably more conservative, and covering more, including your hair, will feel less conspicuous there.
Newer tourism developments like NEOM and the Red Sea projects cater to international visitors and lean relaxed. Pools and private beaches at resorts generally allow swimwear, though covering up is expected when moving through public areas. Pack for the most conservative stop on your itinerary and adjust as you go.
Ramadan
There’s no separate Ramadan dress code, but modesty expectations tighten in practice during the holy month. Keep shoulders and knees covered without exception, and know that some restaurants and venues enforce stricter standards during Ramadan, so it’s worth checking ahead.
If You’re Working in Saudi Arabia
Workplace rules operate separately from the public standard, and some employers still expect an abaya and head covering even though the law does not. In late 2025, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development released a draft Code of Appearance and Conduct that would standardize professional attire across public, private, and nonprofit employers. For women, the draft requires clothing that is modest, fully covering the body, not tight, and not transparent. Employers would have to publish written internal dress codes aligned with the national rule and could face penalties for failing to enforce them.
Public consultation ran through December 2025, and once finalized the code takes effect 30 days after publication in the Official Gazette. If you’re employed in the kingdom rather than visiting, the employer’s policy is what governs your daily attire.
Practical Tips
Carry a lightweight scarf even if you don’t plan to wear one every day. You’ll want it for mosque visits, and it’s useful in more conservative neighborhoods where blending in reduces attention. Avoid sheer or skin-tight items and anything with provocative images or wording. Beyond that, colored and patterned clothing is fine; the idea that women need head-to-toe black is outdated.