Majlis

The domestic parlour

In private residences, the majlis serves as the main reception area for entertaining visitors. Seating consists of long cushions arranged against the walls, either placed directly over floor rugs or on raised ledges. Generosity toward guests is a central domestic duty, so families take great care in preparing the room. People gather around the hearth to converse in a relaxed setting. In regions like Saudi Arabia, women often oversee the preparation and adornment of these reception quarters, sometimes bartering with neighbours to paint or furnish the interior.

Regional decorative styles

Majlis interiors feature distinct local art forms. In the southern Asir Province and neighbouring Yemen, women paint walls in a style known as al-Qatt Al-Asiri, filling the room with bright tones and geometric shapes. In central areas like Najd and Al-Qassim, craftsmen historically carved stars, rosettes, and stepped patterns into white gypsum plaster called jis, framing the coffee hearth and seating areas. In Riyadh, similar traditional designs appear in unadorned clay, reflecting architectural motifs that connect to ancient regional designs.

Councils and leadership

Before Islam, tribal groups gathered in a majlis under a sheikh to discuss common affairs and resolve disputes. During the early caliphates, consultative assemblies met under this name to deliberate and choose leaders based on justice and sound judgment. Today, the tradition extends beyond the home into public life. Parliaments, town councils, and consultative assemblies across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia still bear the name majlis, carrying forward the ideal of collective discussion.

How Majlis is kept

Hosts invite visitors into a dedicated reception room lined with carpets and perimeter cushions. Guests take their places along the walls or near the hearth, creating an open circle where everyone can see and hear one another. The host attends to the comfort of everyone present. Gatherings range from everyday family visits and friendly conversations to formal tribal deliberations, public hearings, or community consultations led by local elders and officials.

When and where

A residential majlis opens whenever visitors arrive, especially during family visits, social calls, and evening get-togethers. Consultative and administrative assemblies convene according to civic schedules, tribal needs, or annual community calendars.

This custom is rooted in the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar, as well as Yemen. Related civic assemblies and meeting rooms exist across parts of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

What Majlis means

The majlis embodies the values of generous hospitality, mutual respect, and shared governance. Arranging seating along the perimeter reflects equal participation in conversation. In communal life, it signifies a commitment to open consultation, where community members discuss shared concerns face to face.

Questions people ask about Majlis

See also

Eid al-FitrThe feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits homeArabic coffeeA bitter, spiced brew served as a gesture of hospitality across the Arab world.As-salamu alaykumA traditional Arabic greeting of peace exchanged in daily life and prayerFaceThe shared social etiquette of honour, dignity and mutual respect across cultures

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Majlis, a cultural and social spaceUNESCO, Heritage listing
• Majlis, a cultural and social spaceUNESCO, Article

• Majlis on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.