View Egyptian tents at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

Source: IAMM website. An Egyptian
ceremonial tent.

The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) has launched Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary, a cooperative effort between the IAMM and guest curator Dr Sam Bowker of Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Khayamiya, derived from the Arabic 'khayam' (خيمة, tent), is the Egyptian art of tent-making. It is created using a hand-appliqué technique in which fabric pieces are cut, folded and skilfully hand-sewn to canvas, producing impressive tents and wall hangings. These vibrant textiles are widely used in ceremonial contexts such as weddings, funerals, street parties and religious events.

This exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the evolution of khayamiya from the late Ottoman Empire to the present day. Some of the highlights include the Syme Panel (the first Khedival khayamiya to be discovered in Australia), and rarely-seen monumental tent panels from the Bowker Collection. The IAMM will be displaying one of its most treasured objects, a complete 19th-century Egyptian tent, to demonstrate that khayamiya is a sophisticated textile art form with a rich legacy of Islamic design influences.

Interested?

The exhibition runs till 31st January 2016. Check the museum opening hours

Msheireb Properties hoists iftar tent at Msheireb Downtown Doha

Source: Msheireb Properties.

Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of the Qatar Foundation, is hosting an iftar tent throughout Ramadhan at its flagship Msheireb Downtown Doha project. The tent will be situated in the Eid Prayer Ground section which was recently opened for Eid prayer last year. 

Over the month the company said it will host around 9,000 fasting individuals from all sectors of society and will provide complimentary meals to onsite construction workers and residents of the neighbourhood in an orderly and secure manner. 

Both organisations are committed to giving back to the local community and have united their efforts to support those less privileged in the community.

Msheireb Properties supports key CSR initiatives that focus on the development and overall well-being of the labour community including the Better Connections’and Box Appeal campaigns, as well as a Safety in the Workplace programme that promotes a culture of safety and raises awareness of issues related to occupational safety and health.

NBK announces its iftar tent is open

Source: NBK.  Picture taken on the occasion of the opening of the annual iftar tent.

The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has opened its annual iftar tent near the Grand Mosque in the Sharq area to offer fasters iftar banquets during Ramadhan. The iftar tent is part of NBK`s annual Ramadan programme, Do Good Deeds in the Holy month of Ramadan. 

Talal Al Turki, NBK Public Relations Officer said: “NBK staff volunteers finalised all necessary arrangements for Ramadan tent to receive fasting people on the eve of the first day of Ramadhan. NBK staff volunteers will manage and supervise the fast-breaking. The distribution scale of NBK iftar banquets this year also includes hundreds of fast-breaking meals via special convoys to numerous mosques, hospitals and crowded locations in Kuwait.” 

Ramadhan tent at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa

Source: Meydan Hotels & Hospitality website.

For the month of Ramadhan, the Al Hadheerah, an open-air desert restaurant modelled after a traditional fort at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, will present traditional Arab cuisine along with cultural entertainment in an air-conditioned tent.

The Atlantis offers iftar at three locations this Ramadhan

Atlantis is offering a taste of Arabian culture with three different venues for iftar and suhoor this Ramadhan, at Asateer, Nobu and Kaleidoscope.

Asateer, named after the wise words and stories that have been told inside Ramadhan tents for centuries, offers a tent experience with views of the Arabian sea for up to 900 guests. A traditional iftar sunset buffet is served for AED195*, including Ramadhan juices, and an ala carte suhoor** menu from 9.30pm. 

During iftar, guests can enjoy traditional foul moudammas and balila stations, as well as a wide variety of Ramadhan fresh juices such as jallab (a syrup made with carob, dates, grape molasses and rose water), laban (also called ayran, a yoghurt-based drink mixed with salt), kamr al deen (pureed dried apricots soaked with water) and karkadeh (roselle). Arabic sweets such as Osmaliya with Ashta, Katayef and Znoud El Sit will be served. Traditional Arabic ice cream will be prepared at live cooking stations. 

Guests will be able to enjoy new continental dishes during suhoor including the Asateer Beef Burger, calamari, a variety of Italian and Indian dishes and a mix of international desserts.

Set menus are available for groups of 20 people or more, and a Royal Majlis and five exclusive Majlis areas are open for private gatherings. Each Majlis has a PlayStation and a plasma television. There are also prayer rooms in Asateer.

Free WiFi is provided throughout Asateer. World Cup games will be aired during both meals, while traditional tableh and oud players will play timeless Arabic favourities after 9.30pm. Shisha is also available during suhoor, while chess and backgammon sets can be requested.

Asateer provides complimentary valet parking steps from the tent.

There is a smart casual dress code for Asateer during Ramadhan, comprising a minimum of long trousers, no shorts, and a T-shirt with sleeves, but any footwear***. 

For more information and reservations, please e-mail asateer@atlantisthepalm.com or call +971 4426 0800.

For the first time, Nobu will be offering iftar during Ramadhan. The Japanese hotspot will blend Chef Nobu’s signature dishes such as Steamed Seabass Dry Miso with Eggplant Purée and Creamy Rock Shrimp with his spin on iftar staples such as dried fruit and vegetables to break one’s fast. The daily iftar set menu costs AED270 per person, and a regular ala carte menu is available as well. The dinner service is from 7 pm to 11.30 pm Saturday to Wednesday and will run to 12.30 am on Thursdays and Fridays. 

For more information e-mail restaurantreservations@atlantisthepalm.com or call +971 4426 2626.

Kaleidoscope will include the traditional Ramadhan favourites served an interactive open kitchen and live cooking stations. For AED200, guests can choose between an iftar buffet including water and Ramadhan juices from 6 pm to 8:30 pm or the dinner buffet from 9 to 11 pm. 

For more information e-mail restaurantreservations@atlantisthepalm.com or call +971 4426 2626.

*Children below the age of three years are admitted free, while children between three and 12 years can enjoy iftar for AED95.
**Only those over 21 will be admitted.
***The dress code is also applicable for children of all ages.

Taj Palace Hotel offers Ramadhan tent delights in Dubai

The Taj Palace Hotel, Dubai, welcomes guests to its Ramadhan tent. Set up in the hotel lobby, the tent offers culinary delights from the Middle East during the month of Ramadhan during iftar. 

Source: Taj Hotels website. 

For AED139 per person, guests break their fast with laban or fresh fruit and experience Egyptian tajine, seafood fattah, calamari & fish casserole, Mediterranean cod among other dishes. 

The tent can accommodate groups up to 30 guests. Those who wish to host an iftar party for groups of 40 persons and above can enjoy a rate of AED119 per person with the buffet set up in the ballroom. Private venues and restaurants are also available for a minimum of 50 persons and up to 80 persons.

The Taj Palace Hotel Dubai is centrally located in Deira, minutes from the international airport, and within easy reach of the business and commercial district, tourist spots, shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities.