2019 Ramadan Tents and Marquees: The Do’s & The Don’ts
Ready Steady Go: Welcome Ramadan
Spring is around the corner and the countdown to the start of the Holy month of Ramadan has already begun. In the UAE, especially in Dubai, the holy month of Ramadan is a study in contrasts with a special convivial ambience. During the daylight hours, the city adjusts to a quieter, slower pace. Some businesses alter their operating hours, creating a shorter working day. But after sunset, with the call to the Maghreb prayer, initiating the breaking of the fast, the rhythm changes. The city comes alive with a different energy. People gather to visit numerous Ramadan Iftar and Sohour tents, participate in special seasonal celebrations, sports competitions, and cultural happenings. The malls and promenades are filled with families shopping, walking and enjoying different activities.
We’re only 8 weeks away so whether you are planning an annual corporate gathering, or a special Ramadan event, now is the right time to start thinking about preparing the best kind of venue; and this is where Ramadan tents come to play.
Ramadan Tent Essentials: Stylish & Flexible Solutions
Tents are often used in creating Ramadan settings because they provide so many customisable options including the external structure and floor to ceiling decorative choices. They provide a comprehensive Ramadan venue solution fulfilling space and creative requirements.
Tents and their accompanying furnishing and décor can deliver a unique ambience that transports guests to another space and time. They can be stylish and comfortable with a blend of traditional and contemporary, evoking the Bedouin shelters of the past with an updated Arabian flair.
“I Want to Tent with Somebody”: Using Temporary Structures to Increase Creative Choices & Control
Do: Think Big!
Don’t: Let existing venues limit your imagination
Exterior Solutions: Constructing Unique Spaces Meeting your Specifications
For Ramadan, temporary structures are a great go-to solution for hosting large events or flexibly expanding an existing space to accommodate more guests. Stand-alone structures can be installed almost anywhere in any exterior space – venue grounds, beaches, deserts, parks or promenades, providing a comfortable, cost-effective and secure area for hospitality. We’ve spoken before about how temporary structures increase your venue choices and creative options.
Moreover, we have several flexible solutions for exterior structures that can scale up or down in size according to your needs and that give the appearance of more permanent structures, safely and flexibly. The classic two-sloped tent, for example, is spacious and is designed for multifunctional use. It can even be positioned as a double deck structure. For Dubai Creek 2016, we set up a two-slope transparent tent where guests enjoyed the beautiful night views while being indoors in a perfectly cool environment.
The Polygonal, on the other hand, has an innovative shape, available in a variety of widths, with a full grey or clear roof. Both structures can be extended in 5-meter increments. The Cube has an original clean façade, invisible roof and a fully customisable second skin. One advantage of The Cube is that its design provides for the concealment of all the unsightly elements that accompany temporary structures like ducting, and A/C units. Additionally, it has horizontal panels allowing for different options such as mashrabiya, clear glass, or black out. For an ultra-quick solution, the dome can be installed anywhere in as little as 6-48 hours depending on the size. It also has multiple customisation and interior connection options, making it a good choice not only for outdoor exhibits but also for indoor activities and events.
Interior Solutions: Creating Unique Environments to Transport your Guests
Tents are not just for creating free-standing structures. Indoor tent solutions can be used to cover terraces or balconies to expand the available area and seating capacity, for example, by covering a terrace or pool area. In addition, smaller indoor tents can be set up inside the venue to create a special VIP seating area, a Majilis, or to construct a showstopping walkway or entry way.
In 2018, the Dubai Opera auditorium was transformed into a magnificent banquet hall for Ramadan including four custom-built indoor majlis tents with tasselled arches and festoon lighting. The Ramadan tents made for Emirates Palace in 2014 and 2017 exuded light and a contemporary design flavour with the careful use of updated traditional elements including mashrabiya pieces. In 2014, a tent was used to expand the available space and decorated throughout using specially customised pieces such as table tops.
“Tell Me a Story”: Blending Contemporary Design with Classic Inspiration
Do: Use Arabian themes and motifs as a style reference
Don’t: Go overboard with a stale Hollywood style Arabian night’s aesthetic