UAE clothes memo hasn't stopped these Western stars from walking like an Egyptian!

Published July 12th, 2016 - 08:26 GMT

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned their citizens against wearing national costumes abroad after an Emirati man wearing a traditional white kandura was handcuffed in Ohio over suspicions he had links to Daesh. According to news reports from Dubai, local women visiting the West were also urged to skip that abaya and abide by bans on face veils “to ensure their safety”. But what about when the fashion shoe is on the other foot?

Some international celebs insist on donning that thobe or head scarf out of 'when in Rome' respect. But equally others are throwing all travel clothing cautions to the wind and going with Arabian attire even when in Europe or on home soil. 

In Tunisia, Afghanistan and Indonesia, Muslim militants have attacked Western tourists, easily spotted by their choice of clothes. So while some blending burka-clad celebs might have the right idea, it is not as easy to explain other Western celebs' sudden attraction to Middle Eastern traditional garb.

Travel safety advisory briefs nothwithstanding, some stars are drawn to the Arab look and will wear it without a kevlar, bullet-proof lining! Here are eleven top celebs who didn't get that Emirati memo and 'kan' wear a kandura if they want to!

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Retired model Gisele Bundchen was a bit worse for wear after birthing her babies. So she treated herself and her sis to a bit of Parisian plastic surgery. To evade paparazzi, the pair donned burqas. It was a doubly epic fail! The outfits - banned in France in 2010 - were a magnet for the paps' cameras.

Hollywood superstar Jackie Chan was spotted wearing traditional Arabic dress while attending a 2015 camel race in Dubai. The Chinese martial arts pro was in town to film “King Fu Yoga” at the Atlantis Hotel and the Palm, shutting down parts of the city to shoot a car chase scene.

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson hit headlines in 2011 when she took to the sea in Sydney wearing a burkini. The curvaceous cook claimed she chose the conservative swimwear because her then-husband, billionaire Charles Saatchi ‘liked his women pale' (not cooked “well-done”).

Wild child Lindsay Lohan was caught with a holy Quran after her first day of community service in a Brooklyn, New York children’s center - punishment for a 2015 run-in with California police. The Catholic-raised actress was on an 'emotional detox', giving up sex and booze. It didn't last.

Lady Gaga never met a social taboo she didn't love, so it was inevitable that she’d grab on to the fashion-flashpoint of burqas. The singer-songwriter penned a 2013 song called 'Aura’, provocatively using the word ‘burqa”, causing outrage for sexualizing the garment.

Reality TV's Khloe Karsdashian rocked a headscarf in Dubai, where she was promoting her hair-care products. She shared the selfie with her followers, captioned "Habibi Love". Many Muslim Instagrammers denounced her post, saying she was turning a religious garment into a fashion accessory.

Jada Pinkett Smith attended a billionaire's Amman wedding last year, where she posted a selfie with a side of political spin. In her loose veil, she urged followers to not believe everything on the news, especially when it comes to the MidEast. "You can't know the world simply by watching the news. A night in Jordan during the call to prayer."

As a “Goodwill Ambassador” for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie is frequently in the Middle East, and often dresses with decorum befitting the role and the customs of those she meets with.

Singer Ricky Martin was papped during a private visit to Doha's iconic Museum of Islamic Art. Dressed in a perfectly ironed thobe, he matched the austerity of the modern architecture. Living la vida loca, Qatari-style.

Cristiano Ronaldo sported Moroccan dress in Marrakech, alongside his BFF, World Kickboxing champion Badr Hari. The guys were celebrating his national team’s qualification for Euro 2016 in a traditional Moroccan restaurant, where he donned the small red cap known as the Moroccan Tarboosh.

Tyrese Gibson, famed for starring in Fast and Furious, when asked if there were any reason why he was dressed "like this" – spotted sporting the UAE national dress (or Kendura - similar to 'thobe') while set to travel to Dubai – he replied "I respect the tradition, I respect the culture". So while in Dubai, do as the Emiratis!

Gisele Bundchen arabic dress
Jackie Chan arabic dress
Nigella Lawson arabic dress
Lindsay Lohan arabic dress
Lady GaGa arabic dress
Khloe Kardashian arabic dress
Jada Pinkett Smith arabic dress
Angelina Jolie arabic dress
Ricky Martin arabic dress
Cristiano Ronaldo arabic dress
Tyrese Gibson arabic dress
Gisele Bundchen arabic dress
Retired model Gisele Bundchen was a bit worse for wear after birthing her babies. So she treated herself and her sis to a bit of Parisian plastic surgery. To evade paparazzi, the pair donned burqas. It was a doubly epic fail! The outfits - banned in France in 2010 - were a magnet for the paps' cameras.
Jackie Chan arabic dress
Hollywood superstar Jackie Chan was spotted wearing traditional Arabic dress while attending a 2015 camel race in Dubai. The Chinese martial arts pro was in town to film “King Fu Yoga” at the Atlantis Hotel and the Palm, shutting down parts of the city to shoot a car chase scene.
Nigella Lawson arabic dress
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson hit headlines in 2011 when she took to the sea in Sydney wearing a burkini. The curvaceous cook claimed she chose the conservative swimwear because her then-husband, billionaire Charles Saatchi ‘liked his women pale' (not cooked “well-done”).
Lindsay Lohan arabic dress
Wild child Lindsay Lohan was caught with a holy Quran after her first day of community service in a Brooklyn, New York children’s center - punishment for a 2015 run-in with California police. The Catholic-raised actress was on an 'emotional detox', giving up sex and booze. It didn't last.
Lady GaGa arabic dress
Lady Gaga never met a social taboo she didn't love, so it was inevitable that she’d grab on to the fashion-flashpoint of burqas. The singer-songwriter penned a 2013 song called 'Aura’, provocatively using the word ‘burqa”, causing outrage for sexualizing the garment.
Khloe Kardashian arabic dress
Reality TV's Khloe Karsdashian rocked a headscarf in Dubai, where she was promoting her hair-care products. She shared the selfie with her followers, captioned "Habibi Love". Many Muslim Instagrammers denounced her post, saying she was turning a religious garment into a fashion accessory.
Jada Pinkett Smith arabic dress
Jada Pinkett Smith attended a billionaire's Amman wedding last year, where she posted a selfie with a side of political spin. In her loose veil, she urged followers to not believe everything on the news, especially when it comes to the MidEast. "You can't know the world simply by watching the news. A night in Jordan during the call to prayer."
Angelina Jolie arabic dress
As a “Goodwill Ambassador” for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Angelina Jolie is frequently in the Middle East, and often dresses with decorum befitting the role and the customs of those she meets with.
Ricky Martin arabic dress
Singer Ricky Martin was papped during a private visit to Doha's iconic Museum of Islamic Art. Dressed in a perfectly ironed thobe, he matched the austerity of the modern architecture. Living la vida loca, Qatari-style.
Cristiano Ronaldo arabic dress
Cristiano Ronaldo sported Moroccan dress in Marrakech, alongside his BFF, World Kickboxing champion Badr Hari. The guys were celebrating his national team’s qualification for Euro 2016 in a traditional Moroccan restaurant, where he donned the small red cap known as the Moroccan Tarboosh.
Tyrese Gibson arabic dress
Tyrese Gibson, famed for starring in Fast and Furious, when asked if there were any reason why he was dressed "like this" – spotted sporting the UAE national dress (or Kendura - similar to 'thobe') while set to travel to Dubai – he replied "I respect the tradition, I respect the culture". So while in Dubai, do as the Emiratis!

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