Majlis
Also called: Women's majlis and Sitting room
The room in a Gulf home set aside for receiving guests, and by extension the gathering held there; the women's majlis is where female relatives and friends meet.
In Gulf homes the majlis is the formal reception room, often with its own entrance, furnished with low seating along the walls and space for coffee, dates and conversation. Larger houses have separate majlis rooms for men and for women, and the women's majlis is where family news, engagements, Eid visits and the smaller wedding gatherings take place.
For a home beauty service the word matters in a practical way. A women's majlis is the natural room for a group visit: it is private, it seats several guests comfortably, and there is usually a table and good light. Hosts book henna, nails or blow-dries for a gathering of sisters, cousins or friends, and the therapists work around the room while the visit goes on.
If you are hosting, say how many guests want a service and which, so the right number of therapists comes, and clear a table or a corner for the kit. Hamd Beauty takes group bookings of two to twelve clients in one visit, with one therapist for up to three clients.
