"Hijab Beach"

First Adriatic beach for Muslim women only

Symbolic image(Bild: APA/AFP/YASIN AKGUL)

In the Montenegrin coastal town of Ulcinj, a section of beach has recently been opened that is reserved exclusively for Muslim women wearing hijabs or burkinis. This is in response to the ever-increasing number of Muslim tourists from Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Ulcinj is predominantly Muslim and has enjoyed increasing popularity among tourists from Muslim countries - especially from neighboring Albania - since the 1990s. For this reason, a small section of the twelve-kilometre-long sandy beach (Velika Plaža) has now been equipped with a privacy screen made of reed fences and several sun loungers (see TikTok posting below).

Privacy, but no sea view either
In this area, Muslims can stay completely free and undisturbed - without curious or skeptical glances from other bathers. Men - including Muslims - have no access to "Hijab Beach" (the term hijab refers to different forms of female veiling where only the face is visible). However, the view of the sea is also obscured by the barrier.

Incidentally, there is also a nudist area in Ulcinj and a separate secluded bay for women only, which is guarded by security personnel. However, there is no obligation to wear a veil there and every visitor can walk around as she pleases.