The majlis and the gahwa ritual

The majlis (sitting room for guests) is the heart of Emirati hospitality, and Arabic coffee, gahwa, is its signature. In 2015 Arabic coffee was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage after a joint nomination by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

Being welcomed

• Guests are usually offered gahwa and dates on arrival, and often again after a meal.
• Accept at least one cup. Refusing can suggest you are upset; one source puts it plainly: leaving without drinking means you are still upset.
• Relax and enjoy the welcome; hospitality is a point of pride.

How gahwa is served

• The most important or oldest guest is served first.
• If no elder or sheikh is present, serving usually starts from the right side of the majlis. If one is present, they are served first and the server then continues to the right.
• The server holds the dallah (coffee pot) in the left hand and the small cups (finjan) in the right.
• The cup is never filled. Sources differ on exactly how much: from a quarter to about half. A full cup was traditionally a hint that the guest was not welcome.
• The server stays standing until everyone has finished.
• Coffee is not served while people are eating.

How to drink it

• Take and return the cup with your right hand. Using your left hand is seen as rude.
• Drink it while it is hot, in small sips.
• The host keeps refilling your cup until you signal you have had enough.
• To finish, gently shake the cup from side to side as you hand it back.
• How many cups? Abu Dhabi Culture suggests at least one and no more than three; others say there is no limit. One to three is a safe guide.

Dates and bukhoor

• Dates are served with gahwa: their sweetness balances the coffee's bitterness.
• Bukhoor (scented wood chips) burns in a mabkhara (incense burner), which may be passed among guests so they can scent their clothes and hair. Hold it briefly and pass it on with your right hand.

Serving gahwa yourself

• Stand, hold the dallah in your left hand and the cups in your right.
• Serve the eldest or most important guest first, then continue around the room.
• Pour a small amount, hand the cup with your right hand, and watch for the shake.