THE Arab emirate of Qatar has issued a decree telling tourists that leggings are not pants.

The Gulf state has launched a modesty drive to make sure tourists understand what is and isn’t appropriate dress. And leggings fail to make the cut.

The Reflect your respect campaign, managed by Qatar’s state-run Islamic Culture Centre, uses Twitter, Instagram and leaflets distributed in public places to inform visitors of basic modesty laws in preparation for the 2022 Football World Cup.

“If you are in Qatar, you are one of us. Help us preserve Qatar’s culture and values. Please dress modestly in public places,” the leaflets explain.

media_camera The “leggings are not pants” flyer has created some controversy.

The word “modestly” has been starred on the leaflet and a footnote reads: “Leggings are not pants”.

According to Qatar leggings are not appropriate dress because they are too tight and they can be translucent.

“It is expected that you wear decent clothes and women should avoid wearing any garments that are too tight; too short or translucent such as mini-skirts or sleeveless dresses,” the Culture centre says.

The campaign has brought a mixed reaction on Twitter.

No shoulders, no cleavage, no knees. Simple. When in Qatar, do as Qataris do, and cover up. http://t.co/4ZdKK3CmiG via @mashable — Jane Dawson-Howe (@Jane_DHowe) May 27, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: No shoulders, no cleavage, no knees. Simple. When in Qatar, do as Qataris do, and cover up. http://t.co/4ZdKK3CmiG via @mashable— Jane Dawson-Howe (@Jane_DHowe) May 27, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: No shoulders, no cleavage, no knees. Simple. When in Qatar, do as Qataris do, and cover up. http://t.co/4ZdKK3CmiG via @mashable— Jane Dawson-Howe (@Jane_DHowe) May 27, 2014

@AlArabiya_Eng @stacyherbert Do Spandex pants count as leggings or pants? Or neither? I'm going to Qatar in spandex pants to find out — Monroe Monero (@crypto_zen) May 24, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: @AlArabiya_Eng @stacyherbert Do Spandex pants count as leggings or pants? Or neither? I'm going to Qatar in spandex pants to find out— Monroe Monero (@crypto_zen) May 24, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: @AlArabiya_Eng @stacyherbert Do Spandex pants count as leggings or pants? Or neither? I'm going to Qatar in spandex pants to find out— Monroe Monero (@crypto_zen) May 24, 2014

@AlArabiya_Eng @OfficialJargon - How quaint, asterisks to aid in outfit choice. Is there a colour chart? Expect repression is the new black. — sarKAZm (@wagstaff_karen) May 24, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: @AlArabiya_Eng @OfficialJargon - How quaint, asterisks to aid in outfit choice. Is there a colour chart? Expect repression is the new black.— sarKAZm (@wagstaff_karen) May 24, 2014 Sub-type: comment CAPTION: @AlArabiya_Eng @OfficialJargon - How quaint, asterisks to aid in outfit choice. Is there a colour chart? Expect repression is the new black.— sarKAZm (@wagstaff_karen) May 24, 2014