Pink signs by the Dubai Municipality banning women from wearing bikinis on either side of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club this holiday are no longer in sight, The National reported.
“Signs marking off a stretch of beach for families only have been removed without explanation only a week after they were put up, much to the confusion of tourists and residents,” the report said.
The National earlier reported that these beaches have been declared families-only, and as such women are expected to dress modestly, be fully covered, and “stay away from groups of single men.”
It was the first such rule for a public beach in Dubai.
According to the report, Al Mamzar Beach Park has “women-only days on Sundays and Tuesdays” but is not considered a public beach as visitors are required to pay entrance fees.
But the pink signs have since been removed.
“The decision to take down the signs came as a shock,” the report said.
The National said the “new areas were warmly welcomed by beach lovers who appreciated having an area of sand away from the crowds of sunbathers on the popular Kite Beach in Jumeirah.”
Vaishali Raj, head of fashion design at Amity University Dubai, earlier told The National of the cultural significance of the earlier rule.
“Emiratis dress conservatively and expats are expected to do so as well,” she was quoted as saying at that time.
“Visitors often lose recognition of the fact that Dubai is very much a part of the Islamic world,” she said.
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