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Course in Arabic hospitality

DUBAI — Khaleeji Hospitality, a part of the Arab culture in the region where guests are showered with excess care, is budding across the hospitality sector in Europe to meet the needs of visitors from GCC countries. This has prompted an institute to revive the practice in the UAE’s hospitality sector through a unique tailor-made course called ‘The Essence of Arabic Hospitality’.

“Khaleeji Hospitality is much more than serving Arabic coffee and dates,” said Dubai-based Arabic hospitality course instructor Elizabeth Percy.

“The World Halal Development (WHAD) is imparting the essence of incorporating halal practices in business and hospitality to the hospitality industry across Europe, especially in Italy, that has helped those countries look after GCC guests effectively. ‘Global Hospitality’ is the norm across the hospitality sector in the UAE that helps employees accommodate visitors from different cultures, but what is missing is the region’s own Arabic hospitality,” Percy said.

“Every culture has its significance and hospitality has a global essence. Khaleeji Hospitality is different because of its origin from the desert culture. It stems from the desert culture that is steeped in a nature of giving, where those who travelled through the harsh, barren land learnt to be friends with everyone, even if it was an enemy. Another popular way of describing Khaleeji culture is ‘I extend my home, my food, my well-being and my friendship to cover you at all times’,” she said.

The new course focuses on cultural awareness and personality development, and upon completion, students will receive a certificate from the institute attested by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. Mohammad Darwich, the Chief of Regulations and Compliance Commission (RCC) at KHDA added, “KHDA issues Educational Permits to Training Institutions with a rigorous compliance framework to ensure that Training Institutions adhere to KHDA’s regulations. However, KHDA does not accredit these institutions. As per KHDA’s regulations, training institutes are permitted to offer only short term courses that are non-credit bearing and do not lead to Higher Education certification.”

The Khaleeji Hospitality course is customised according to the needs of those in the hospitality business and their staff, and training sessions held on the property itself, either in a Majlis (Arabic-themed living room) or a banquet hall. The course term can be for a period of one to five days and also provides one-day workshops for staff and heads of departments.

While the UAE is already fine-tuned in Islamic hospitality, that is providing halal products and services, Percy said the inclusion of Arabic hospitality can give a positive impact on hotel occupancy numbers in the UAE and in the GCC.

“Arabic hospitality is a high level of endurance, because it is a long-term relationship, but the returns are always very generous. Individuals who are in the hospitality industry can benefit from these courses. However, it is best that they do it with their colleagues and within their brand structures. It is a course that has to be applied in your workplace to impact numbers of return guests or should aim at more GCC guests for the hotel property. This will greatly benefit five-star hotels, locations with large banquet halls that host extravagant Arab weddings and similar reception venues,” she said. — farhana@khaleejtimes.com