Majlis sofa Dubai: Arabic majlis seating made to measure

What is an Arabic majlis, and what does The Fabric Room make?

An Arabic majlis is a sitting room built for hosting, where seating runs continuously around the walls so every guest faces the centre. The word means a place of sitting. In UAE homes it is often the most used room in the house, from daily family tea to large gatherings at Eid.

We make every part of the seating to measure. That covers the base or mattress you sit on, the upright back cushions (often called masnad), the arm cushions or takiya that sit at the ends and corners, matching scatter cushions, and any floor cushions for overflow seating. We build straight runs, L shapes and U shapes, and we handle corners so the fabric pattern and the piping line up where two runs meet.

If you want a single statement piece rather than a full room, we also make freestanding majlis sofa sets on a low upholstered frame that can move with you if you change home.

Floor majlis or raised majlis sofa: which suits your room?

The choice usually comes down to who sits there and how often. Older guests and anyone with knee trouble find a raised majlis sofa far easier to get in and out of. Families who like to sprawl, and homes with young children, often prefer floor seating. The table compares the two as we make them.

Majlis seating fabrics, foam and finishes

A majlis is sat on hard and often, so we specify fabric for heavy domestic use. Look for a Martindale rub test of 25,000 or more, and 40,000 plus if the room also hosts large events or doubles as a guest reception. Velvet, chenille, woven jacquard and performance weaves with a stain resistant finish all suit majlis seating. You can compare them in our fabric guide.

Because you sit low, more of your weight bears down on a smaller area, so we use firm, high density seat foam, commonly 35 to 40 kg per cubic metre, wrapped in polyester fibre for a softer surface. Back cushions are filled softer so they give when you lean in. Every cover is zipped so it can be removed for cleaning, which matters in Dubai when sand and dust find their way indoors.

Finishing details carry the look: contrast piping, flanged edges, tassels, embroidered borders or a plain tailored edge for a modern majlis sofa.

How we make a majlis sofa in Dubai, from visit to fitting

Every majlis starts with a home visit. We measure each wall, note doors, windows, sockets and air conditioning vents, and bring fabric samples so you see colour in your own light. You then receive a written quote within 24 hours, with a layout drawing and the full specification.

A 50% deposit books a fixed fitting date. Our craftspeople make the bases, back cushions and arm cushions to order in Dubai, working to that written specification for foam density, stitching and pattern match. Every piece is inspected and photographed before it leaves, and our team delivers and fits it on the date we agreed. You can read more about each stage on our process page.

What drives the price of a majlis sofa in Dubai? Four things matter most: the total running length of seating, whether it is floor level or on a raised frame, the foam specification, and the fabric. Trims such as piping, tassels and embroidered borders add labour. We price each job in writing after the visit and explain every line, and our pricing page sets out how we work.

Reupholstering or refreshing an existing majlis

Many majlis frames and bases are sound long after the fabric has faded or the foam has flattened. In that case new covers and new foam cost far less than starting again. We can recover the existing pieces through our reupholstery service, replace tired inserts with fresh high density foam, or simply add new back and arm cushions in a different colour.

If the room only needs a lift, matching floor cushions and scatter cushions are a quick way to change the feel before Ramadan or a family occasion. Lead times across the trade lengthen before Ramadan and Eid, so it helps to book the home visit early.

Why Dubai families choose The Fabric Room for majlis seating

We work only to measure, so the seating fits your room rather than a catalogue size. You deal with one team from the first visit to the final fitting, and every job comes with a written specification and our workmanship guarantee.

To plan layouts and colour schemes before the visit, read our majlis design guide. You can also try fabrics and colours for the cushions in the The Fabric Room Design Studio and send the design for a price. When you are ready, book a home visit or message us on WhatsApp on +971 50 551 1768.