Abaya for Umrah: practical choices for long days

Cloth for heat and nightly washing

Makkah and Madinah are hot for much of the year, and you will spend long hours on your feet, indoors and out. Two things matter most in the cloth: how it feels in heat, and how fast it dries. Whatever you choose, check its opacity in strong light before you travel, because bright sun and pale floors reveal more than a bedroom mirror does.

Our guide to abaya fabrics for Gulf summer heat compares the options in depth. In short:

• Light polyester abaya cloths, the kind sold as nida and under similar names, are thin, opaque, slow to crease and dry in a few hours on a hanger. They do not absorb sweat, so wear a thin cotton layer beneath.
• Cotton and linen blends feel fresher against the skin and breathe well, but they crease and may still be damp by morning in a humid room.
• Heavy crepe, lined abayas and anything embellished dry slowly and are tiring to carry on the shoulders all day. Leave them at home.

A cut for crowds and long walks

Simple shapes cope better than dramatic ones. These are the details worth asking for.

• Hem: ankle length, not floor length. In a dense crowd a trailing hem gets stepped on, and it catches on escalators and stairs. Measure as in our guide to abaya length with shoes and ask for a few centimetres of clearance in the flat sandals or trainers you will walk in.
• Width: enough to stride and to sit on the floor comfortably, without so much flare that the hem spreads under other people’s feet.
• Sleeves: a sleeve that closes at the wrist with elastic, a button or a snap stays put when you raise your hands or reach for a rail. Wide open sleeves slide back to the elbow.
• Front: closed, or fastened all the way down. An open front held only by a belt tends to part in wind and on steps.
• Pocket: one deep pocket with a zip for a phone, a room key and a little cash. See abaya pockets for placement.
• Neckline: high and simple, so the scarf sits over it without constant adjusting.

Colour, and how many to pack

You will see every colour there, with black and white the most common. Black hides marks from floors and travel. White and pale shades show dust at the hem sooner and need a careful opacity check, though they take up less heat in direct sun. Choose whichever you are comfortable in and can keep clean.

For numbers, two is the minimum and three is comfortable: one on, one drying, and one spare for the day something spills or the washing stays damp. Pack a light inner layer for each, since those are what really need washing daily, and a plain scarf to go with each abaya to save thinking in the morning. Our travel abaya guide covers the flight and the suitcase.

Ordering in good time

We make abayas to measure in Pakistan and ship them worldwide. Production takes 5 to 7 working days once you have approved the written quote and paid in full; shipping time comes on top and varies by destination, and we do not take rush orders. Order well before your travel date, not while you are packing.

On the quote form, say that the abaya is for Umrah and list what you want: the feel of the fabric, the hem clearance, the cuff and the pocket. These are requests, and we confirm in the quote what is possible on your fabric and design. If you would like two or three in the same cut, mention that too so they are quoted together.