Caring for leather in Gulf humidity

Most leather care advice is written for a temperate climate. Here the problem is not dryness — it is a coastal summer that runs above 80% humidity for weeks.

Never store leather in plastic. The dust bag it came in is breathable; the plastic sleeve it was shipped in is not, and a bag left in one over a Dubai August can bloom with mould.

Silica, not newspaper. Stuff a bag you are not using with acid-free tissue and drop two silica sachets in the main compartment. Newspaper ink transfers onto light linings.

Condition twice a year, not monthly. Over-conditioning softens structured leather until it slumps. Once before summer and once after is enough for a bag in regular use.

Rinse salt off immediately. Sea spray and pool water leave salt that crystallises and cuts the fibres. A damp cloth the same day, then air dry away from direct sun.