Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Celebrity News

    Rihanna Asked To Leave Mosque Following Abu Dhabi Photoshoot

    The singer is no stranger to headlines, but her most recent run-in is a little more serious. Here's what happened...

    By Rebecca Martin
    Published 22 October 2013 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi
    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi
    (Image credit: Instagram)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    The singer is no stranger to headlines, but her most recent run-in is a little more serious. Here's what happened...

    Rihanna is no stranger to controversial headlines, but her latest antics have landed her in a little more trouble than usual. The singer was asked to leave a mosque in Abu Dhabi after posing for 'inappropriate' pictures outside the sacred centre.

    While Rihanna wore a black jumpsuit and headscarf, keeping her entire body covered, her photoshoot was called to a halt by authorities and the singer was asked to leave the religious complex. She'd already tweeted several pictures from her impromptu photoshoot and shared a number of snaps on her personal Instagram feed.

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi
    (Image credit: Instagram)

    A statement from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre said she was asked to leave after 'inappropriate pictures' were taken. He added that the photos 'did not comply with terms and conditions' of organised visits. Eek.

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi
    (Image credit: Instagram)

    A spokesperson for the mosque tells BBC News that Rihanna arrived at an entrance that wasn't designated for visitors, saying: 'She was confronted by the mosque officials and directed to the appropriate entrance to the mosque, to carry out a visit under the normal conditions.'

    You may like
    • Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women. “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    • Burberry summer fashion pop up From Burberry in Antibes to Gucci in Monte Carlo, These Are the Luxury Fashion Pop-Ups Worth Visiting
    • Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City. Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing

    They added that the 25-year-old, who was in the city to perform a concert, arrived for her photoshoot without any previous co-ordination with the administration, while some are saying that the pictures could have been too suggestive.

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi

    Rihanna in Abu Dhabi
    (Image credit: Instagram)

    Rihanna has yet to comment on the awkward altercation, but she's now moved on to Greece, where we can expect plenty more shots and selfies from the local sights. Yesterday, the singer shared a series of snaps in which she was modelling her latest drop for River Island.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Oh, Ri-Ri.

    Rihanna for River Island AW13 – see the full collection

    Rihanna wins permanent injunction against Topshop

    The great selfie debate – are they ever OK?

    Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.

    Rebecca Martin
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women.
    Celebrity News “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    Burberry summer fashion pop up
    Fashion From Burberry in Antibes to Gucci in Monte Carlo, These Are the Luxury Fashion Pop-Ups Worth Visiting
     
     
    Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City.
    Culture Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing
    Heatwave Denim Listing
    Shopping Instead of Light Washes, Celebrities and Fashion Experts Are Wearing a Different Denim Shade This Summer
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity News
    Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women.
    Celebrity News “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    Meghan Markle in 'With Love, Meghan'
    Celebrity News Meghan Markle’s Sweet Glimpse Into Sussex Family Life Is Going Viral
     
     
    Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2
    Celebrity News Anne Hathaway Has Spoken Out About Her 10-Year Health Battle
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the Isles of Mull and Iona
    Royal News Royal Experts Predict a Major Milestone From Princess Kate This Autumn
     
     
    Latest in News
    Kinda Chic Trend
    Shopping Is "Kinda Chic" Kinda Cringe? Everyone's Favourite Fashion Word Just Went Completely Out of Fashion
    Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: The Foundation Using Exosome Technology, the Treatment That Transformed My Skin Texture—Plus, the Ever-Earlier Advent Calendar Race
     
     
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Everything Kaia Gerber Wears Is a Masterclass in Minimalism—These Are the Pieces and Brands She Always Goes Back to
    Copenhagen Fashion Week street style
    Shopping Kitten-Heel Sandals, Lace Dresses and the Season's New Favourite Shade of Blue— These are the Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Trends to Note
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.