التراث الثقافي غير المادي لدولة الإمارات: قارئ

source_url: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/majlis-a-cultural-and-social-space-01076 <!-- generated by build_corpus.py from data_sources/ich_elements.json --> # Majlis **Majlis, a cultural and social space** Majlis are gathering spaces where community members convene to discuss local matters, exchange information, receive visitors and socialise. They serve several functions: resolving communal problems, expressing condolences and hosting wedding celebrations. The physical setting typically features carpets on the floor and cushions along the walls, with facilities for preparing coffee and other beverages. Majlis remain accessible to a wide range of participants, including family members, tribal groups and neighbourhood residents. Community elders function as the primary knowledge keepers, particularly those with expertise in natural knowledge, genealogy and tribal history, while judges and religious leaders hold special status for adjudicating disputes and clarifying social and religious responsibilities. Women maintain their own separate majlis, and some take part in academically or literary-focused gatherings. These spaces preserve the transmission of oral heritage, including folk narratives, songs and Nabati poetry. Knowledge transfers informally across age groups as younger people observe their elders and learn community ethics, dialogue practices and respect for diverse perspectives. ## Key facts - UNESCO inscription: 2015 (Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) - Shared inscription with: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar - Also known / searched as: majlis, majles, mejlis, gathering space, sitting room, council, arabic social space, hospitality space Source: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/majlis-a-cultural-and-social-space-01076