Abu Dhabi is a calmer city than its neighbour up the coast. The capital spreads across islands, and a single day can take a man from a museum on Saadiyat to a palace on the Corniche, a meeting on Al Maryah Island and dinner on the water at Yas. What to wear in Abu Dhabi, for men, comes down to one idea: clothes that are neat enough for every one of those rooms and light enough for the sun between them.

That is exactly what linen does. A PP linen shirt in certified Belgian linen breathes in the heat, dries quickly and looks composed from the first meeting to the last table of the evening.

When to go, and what the weather asks

The season runs from late October to April. Days sit in the high twenties to low thirties, the sea stays warm, and evenings outdoors are pleasant enough to linger. From May to September the temperature passes forty degrees and life moves indoors. For a visitor, the cool season is the time to come, and the wardrobe is simple: linen shirts and linen trousers by day, a long-sleeved shirt for the evening breeze off the water.

Abu Dhabi is a conservative city in public. Long trousers, covered shoulders and shirts with sleeves are the norm away from the beach and the pool, and they are also the most comfortable choice in the sun. Swimwear belongs at the water.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Saadiyat Cultural District

Jean Nouvel's museum sits under a vast silver dome, and the light that falls through it moves across the floor like sun through palm leaves. It is a place to spend a slow morning. Wear a long-sleeved linen shirt in White or Oyster with PP linen trousers in Vanille and leather loafers: covered, cool, and easy in the galleries and on the waterfront outside.

Qasr Al Watan, Qasr Al Hosn and the Corniche

Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, is open to visitors and is all white granite and gold under great domes; Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in the city, tells the story of Abu Dhabi from its pearling days. Both reward neat dress. A Navy linen shirt, fully buttoned, with trousers in Beige Cream is right for the palace halls. In the late afternoon the eight kilometres of the Corniche fill with walkers and cyclists; roll the sleeves, open the collar, and stay for the sunset over the water.

Saadiyat Beach and the island resorts

Saadiyat Beach is a long run of pale sand where the turtles nest, with some of the capital's finest resorts behind it. Here the wardrobe relaxes. PP natural swim shorts for the water, a short-sleeved linen shirt in Lemon Yellow or White over them for lunch on the terrace, and leather sandals. For the full island picture, our guide on what to wear on Saadiyat Island covers each beach and resort in more detail.

Business on Al Maryah Island

ADGM, the Abu Dhabi Global Market, sits on Al Maryah Island, and the city's business dress is smart and practical. A white or Navy long-sleeved linen shirt with tailored linen trousers and leather shoes reads as polished in a boardroom and stays comfortable on the walk across the plaza. Linen is understood here: in a climate like this, it is the sensible choice of a man who knows the city.

Race weekend on Yas Island

Every December the season ends with the Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit, where the race finishes under floodlights and the yachts in the marina become the most coveted seats in town. Days in the grandstand call for a light shirt and a hat; evenings on the yachts and in the hotels call for something sharper. A Coral Orange or Violet linen shirt with White linen trousers has the right ease for the paddock parties. Our guide to what to wear at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix covers the whole weekend.

Evenings: Emirates Palace and dinner by the water

Dinner in Abu Dhabi is often outdoors in the cool season, at the marina on Yas, on the terraces of Emirates Palace or along the Saadiyat waterfront. A long-sleeved Navy or Dubarry linen shirt, linen trousers and leather loafers carry a man from the aperitif to the last coffee. Linen softens with every wear and looks better at the end of the evening than at the start.

The Abu Dhabi packing list

For a week in the cool season: three long-sleeved linen shirts (White, Navy, Oyster), two short-sleeved shirts for the beach days, two pairs of linen trousers (Vanille and White), a pair of linen shorts for the resort, PP natural swim shorts, leather loafers and sandals, and sunglasses. Everything folds small and washes easily in a hotel basin. Why the fibre matters is explained in our guide to 100% Belgian linen.

For women travelling with you, the companion piece on what to wear in Abu Dhabi for women follows the same days, and the wider picture of the capital's linen is in the linen brand for Abu Dhabi.

What to Wear in Abu Dhabi for Women · Buy Linen Shirts UAE · Men's Linen Collection