Majlis design in Dubai

A majlis is a reception room for receiving guests, a tradition across the Gulf. Seating traditionally runs around the walls so everyone faces the centre and can join one conversation, and the host can see and serve every guest. Today a majlis may be formal or relaxed, traditional or contemporary, but its purpose has not changed: it is the room where the household shows hospitality. That gives it different rules from a living room. It must seat more people than the family alone, stay presentable at short notice, and usually keep visitors separate from the private parts of the house.

• Capacity and seating arrangementHow many guests you usually receive, and whether seating is fixed along the walls or freestanding.
• Arrival routeA separate entrance and a guest washroom nearby keep visitors out of the private house.
• Coffee and tea serviceA serving counter or a small pantry so hospitality does not depend on trips to the main kitchen.
• Focal wallPanelling, cladding, calligraphy or art opposite the main seat.
• Ceiling and lightingGypsum ceilings with cove lighting and a central fitting, on circuits that suit daytime visits and evening gatherings.
• Floor and soft furnishingsRugs or carpet for acoustics and comfort, and upholstery that withstands frequent use.
• ClimateEven cooling for a room that may be full of people, with grilles placed so no guest sits in a draught.