Trousers for Men in Hot Weather: A Dubai Guide
Shorts aren't always an option. When the venue, the office or the mosque calls for trousers, these are the ones that keep you cool.
Ask men in Dubai what they find hardest to dress for and a lot of them will say trousers in summer. Jeans are hot, suit trousers feel heavy, and yet half the places you go expect long legs. The right trousers for men in hot weather solve this, and choosing them is simpler than you'd think.
Cut: give your legs some room
Air needs to move. A relaxed or straight leg is noticeably cooler than a skinny one, and it looks more current too. A slight taper towards the ankle keeps it neat so the trousers don't look baggy.
The waist matters on long days. An elasticated or drawstring waist is comfortable from the morning school run to a late dinner, provided the trousers still look tailored from the front. Nobody needs to know.
Fabric: light, breathable, a little weight
You want something that lets air through but still drapes. Very thin fabrics cling when you sweat and show every crease. Very heavy ones trap heat. Something in between, soft with a bit of body, is right. Hold the trousers up to the light in the shop: if you can see straight through them, they'll be too thin; if they feel like denim, too heavy.
Colour: lighter in the day
Sand, stone, ivory and pale blue stay cooler under the sun and look fresh. Navy, olive and charcoal look smarter in the evening. Two pairs, one light and one dark, will get you through most of the year.
One honest warning about light colours: they show marks. Keep a stain pen in the car, and maybe don't order the biryani.
When trousers are the right call
- Offices and business meetings
- Mosques, where men are asked to cover their legs (see our Grand Mosque guide)
- Smarter restaurants and hotel lounges in the evening
- Government offices and banks
- Visiting family or someone's home for the first time
Fit at the hem
In the heat, a clean hem looks best: the trousers just touching the top of your shoe, or slightly cropped above a loafer. Avoid fabric pooling around the ankle. It looks untidy and it's warmer.
Three combinations that always work
The default: a polo with light trousers and loafers. Right for nine out of ten situations.
The relaxed one: a good T-shirt with dark trousers and white leather sneakers.
The considered one: a matching set, top and trousers in the same colour. It looks deliberate with no effort.
For the days when shorts are fine, our men's shorts guide covers length and fit.
