Wearing Leather Jackets in the Middle East

[Aloysius]

While not the Middle East, I spent some time in Sudan along the Nile in the winter. A leather jacket was great at night and early morning. Once the sun comes up, no way. In Tunis, everybody wears leather in the winter and spring. It can be cool and windy near the water. A good jacket is completely appropriate if you are out in the elements, especially to block the wind and sand.

East Africa is completely different climate from the Gulf.

 

[Tim S]

East Africa is completely different climate from the Gulf.

No. The Arabian Desert bounds the Persian Gulf and is an extension of the Sahara. While some differences do exist they are both hot deserts. Khartoum compares favorably to Doha where wearing a leather jacket is a fine idea when seasonally appropriate. The same for south Texas where winters tend to be milder.

 

[Aloysius]

No. The Arabian Desert bounds the Persian Gulf and is an extension of the Sahara. While some differences do exist they are both hot deserts. Khartoum compares favorably to Doha where wearing a leather jacket is a fine idea when seasonally appropriate. The same for south Texas where winters tend to be milder.

I've lived in both regions. You don't generally get the suffocating humidity in East Africa that you do in the Gulf, even on the hottest days.

 

[Tim S]

And I sure hope you didn't wear a leather jacket on those days. Khartoum and many place are along the Nile and it can be as humid as the the equator. Generally it subsides in the winter and a leather jacket is fine. In the Middle East, typically, folks don't appreciate work wear leather and go for very fine, thin lamb or exotic hides with designer labels.

 

[Edward]

Only ever been in the Gulf during a break between flights - Dubai a couple of times, and Doha once. (I swore I'd never leave the airport in Dubai after the flight forced a video about Dubai tourism on me as we neared landing, causing me to have to wait hours for the last twenty minutes of a film I was watching, ha.) I have worn leather in India. Back in February 2013, I travelled in a Wested Raiders (goat) on a work trip. It was fine after dark and in the early morning when we got up at 5 to do a day trip from New Dehli to Agra, but a bit uncomfortable when it hit 20 celsius later in the day (alas it was my only secure pocket at the time). In Beijing, it was fine on a colder, wet day, but otherwise really only bearable in the air-conditioned airport. Mainly it was useful as a way of keeping all those bits you need to hand in an airport in one place without having to empty my trousers every time I turned around. I dread to think what it would be like in the ME.


One December I flew to and from Beijing via Doha. In Beijing the cold would take your head off; landing in Doha, the short walk from the plane to the airport bus in thermals and a B3 nearly killed me. I wouldn't even dream of leather if I had to spend time there, TBH, I doubt I'd be able to cope with denim in that environment.

 

[Aloysius]

I'm not sure why people are chasing leather for this purpose when there are whole categories of outerwear designed for such climates, such as safari jackets.

 

[MrProper]

I'm not sure why people are chasing leather for this purpose when there are whole categories of outerwear designed for such climates, such as safari jackets.

If everyone just followed rational reasons, nobody would wear leather jackets these days because there are better alternatives for every purpose.
Sometimes a leather jacket is just cool. Need more reason?

 

[Aloysius]

If everyone just followed rational reasons, nobody would wear leather jackets these days because there are better alternatives for every purpose.
Sometimes a leather jacket is just cool. Need more reason?

The thing is those kinds of outerwear are also cool and if anything they are neglected today!

 

[Solstice 62]

I spent a couple of years in Riyadh (many years ago), we’d be out in shorts (Frowned upon by the locals) and tee shirts, the locals would be wrapped up like it was about to snow, I guess it depends on what you’re used to

 

[davyjones007]

I live in the Gulf area and people do wear leather jackets here. Mostly in December and January though sometimes in February and again, mostly at night. The temps don't usually dip below 14c at night, but the days tend to hover in the mid 20's. If you are here year round, you will feel cool to cold here. If you just arrived from the EU or the states, it will feel very comfortable. It's one of the ways you can tell tourists from the folks that live and work here. I usually wear a mid-weight fleece during those months. You do see the occasional leather jacket, but it is lamb or thin cowhide. As we are creeping into summer now and the temps are in the mid 40's, people will limit their outside time to a minimum.