Melania Trump's decision not to wear a headscarf upon arrival in the Middle East is drawing attention on social media.
But her decision is consistent with custom for female foreign dignitaries visiting Saudi Arabia.
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British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also shunned head coverings during visits this year, showing how common it is for high-level female visitors to skip wearing a headscarf or an abaya, the loose-fitting black robe worn by Saudi women.
President Donald Trump had criticized former first lady Michelle Obama for not wearing a head scarf during a January 2015 visit to Saudi Arabia with then-President Barack Obama. Saudi Arabia is the first stop on Trump's first foreign trip as president.