What to wear for umrah as a woman: a practical guide

What the day asks of an outfit

Umrah is short compared with hajj, but it is physically full. You walk several kilometres in total, much of it on polished marble and without shoes, shoulder to shoulder with other people. Outside, the heat can be fierce; inside, the air conditioning can feel sharp on damp skin. Around the rites there are coach journeys, airport queues and long waits sitting on the floor.

Clothes for that need four qualities: room to move, cloth you cannot see through, fabric that breathes, and nothing that needs adjusting every few minutes.

The set: what to ask for

If you are travelling in shalwar kameez, these are the choices that matter most. Each one can go in the notes of a quote request.

• Fabric: an opaque, matte cotton. Cambric is denser than lawn and rarely needs a lining; fine lawn in a pale colour usually does. Hold the cloth up to bright light before you commit.
• Kameez length: knee to calf, so that it covers well when you bend and sit. An A-line cut gives room at the hip without high side slits.
• Sleeves: full sleeves with a cuff or a neat wrist stay down when you raise your hands, and a buttoned cuff still pushes up for wudu.
• Neckline: a high round neck or a band collar that stays covered under a scarf.
• Trousers: a shalwar or straight trousers on an elastic or drawstring waist, hemmed at the ankle bone so that nothing trails on wet floors or gets stepped on.
• Embroidery level: none, or delicate and flat. Raised work, beads and dangling trims catch on other people in a crowd.
• Pockets: an inside pocket with a zip keeps a phone and room card close. Ask for it in your quote, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design.

A head covering that stays where you put it

A dupatta draped in the usual way slips within minutes in a moving crowd. Many women pair the kameez with a separate scarf in matte cotton or jersey, worn over an under-cap so that it grips. Slippery chiffon and georgette need constant attention.

Choose a scarf long enough to cover the chest as well as the head, and pack a spare for every day you will be there. If you prefer a dupatta, a wide cotton one wrapped and tucked holds better than one balanced on the shoulders.

With an abaya, or without

Plenty of Pakistani women perform umrah in shalwar kameez alone; others wear an abaya over it. If you wear an abaya, the set beneath can be thinner and plainer, since its only job is comfort. Our guide to what to wear under an abaya covers those layers, and a made-to-measure abaya can be ordered through our abaya service.

Whichever you choose, mind the length. A hem that brushes the ground at home will be trodden on during tawaf, so measure for flat sandals or bare feet and keep it clear of the floor. If white is your choice, our article on a white shalwar kameez for umrah explains how to keep it opaque.

How many sets, and when to order

Two or three light sets are enough for most trips, because plain cotton washed in a hotel basin at night is usually dry by morning. Wash and wear each one at home first, so that you know how it behaves.

Order early. Making takes 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, shipping time is added to that, and we do not take rush orders, so work back from your flight with weeks to spare. You can request a quote with your travel month in the notes.