Ramadan moment to cultivate contacts

Joining the table for a late-night game of Six and delicious food is reason enough to be grateful for an invite. But for the canny, it also offers a golden opportunity to network.

Ducab's suhoor at Shangri La Hotel Qarauat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

A select number of Emiratis, businessmen and diplomats gather at a majlis of a prominent member of society in Abu Dhabi.

The furniture has been re-arranged from its traditional protocol setting to accommodate round tables where the host's guests can play cards.

The name of the game is Six, a favourite among Bedouins and similar to bridge.

Here, the host is sitting laid-back with his deck of cards, with his sons alongside him at the table. He briefly takes time to enquire how his guests are doing at the same game and offering advice to those who are new to Six.

It's midnight but the feast is just starting.

"Business is strictly off the table," says a close aide. "This is the only time where this happens [playing cards at late at night]. "

For businessmen though, playing cards at Ramadan in the majlis is a time to pay their respects to their hosts and tighten relationships in the hope of sealing big business deals.

At 1:30am, dinner is served.

The spread is exquisite, from the dates, an essential item, to slow-cooked baby camel on a bed of biryani rice and harees, a traditional Emirati meal made of coarsely ground wheat and chicken.

At the table, guests truly experience the Arab tradition of generosity. Food is continuously piled on their plate. Bursts of laughter occur as guests, who are on their best behaviour, have to politely signal they are full without offending their host.

For newcomers, the experience can be slightly intimidating.

"It's all public relations," says Mohammed Ali Yasin, the managing director at Abu Dhabi Financial Services, the brokerage arm at National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

"The social part of Ramadan makes people more accessible. Their doors are open, you can walk into their majlis and they welcome you whereas during the rest of the year you would have to make appointments."

In the same way, hotels across the UAE have gradually succumbed to allow guests to play card games to get more business at their grand suhoors and iftars.

This year, Ramadan began in the midst of the summer heat, a time when western expatriates take their holidays and tourists stay away.

The events of Ramadan nights bring a windfall for most hotels that would otherwise be experiencing the slow season.

"It's a way for hotels to minimise their losses and generate some business," says Chiheb Ben Mahmoud, the head of hotel advisory for the Middle East and Africa at Jones Lang LaSalle.

"There is a foregone revenue associated with Ramadan: a decrease in travel leads to a decrease of general entertainment ..."

Mr Ben Mahmoud believes the branding and marketing side of the events are more powerful than the bottom line impact.

"It's like having an open wedding at the Ramadan tents," he says.

"They are creating events, tents, that become highly talked about."

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