Coffee for graduations, open days and parent evenings in Dubai
A graduation or parent evening is a one-off for the families in the room, and the welcome drink sets the tone. This page is for events and admissions teams at schools and universities in Dubai planning a graduation reception, an open day or a parent evening. It compares a barista cart with a majlis station, adds up a reception from published rates, and lists what a campus will ask. For staff rooms, pantry plans and other everyday campus coffee, see coffee for universities and schools, the office and campus page.
Prices as published on this site on 10 October 2026, ex 5% VAT.
Quick answers
- What does coffee for a graduation cost?
- A half-day coffee cart is from AED 3,000 for up to about 100 guests, a majlis station from AED 45 a person for 30 or more, and the Coffee + Karak Experience from AED 5,900. Prices are before 5% VAT.
- Which package fits
- Cart or majlis station for a parent evening?
- A cart suits guests who want lattes and flat whites. A self-serve majlis station of gahwa, dates and karak suits a quieter welcome. Three karak trays for about 30 parents are AED 750.
- Package table
Typical occasions
Schools and universities usually ask about one of these.
- Graduation receptions, where families gather after the ceremony and a Dubai-style welcome with gahwa and karak feels right.
- Open days and admissions evenings, with families arriving in waves and a drinks counter as the meeting point.
- Parent evenings, shorter and smaller, often well served by trays or a majlis station.
- School fairs and awards evenings, which need a hot drink for visitors and for staff and volunteers.
Which package fits
Prices are the published “from” rates before 5% VAT.
| Occasion | What fits | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Parent evening or open day, up to about 100 guests | Half-day coffee cart: 1 barista, up to 4 hours | from AED 3,000 |
| Larger open day or reception, up to about 200 guests | Signature Bar, full day: 2 baristas, up to 8 hours | from AED 4,500 |
| Graduation with a Dubai-style welcome | Coffee + Karak Experience: Signature Bar, live karak and gahwa station, Cha Cha Chai street food (vada pav, samosa pav and momos) | from AED 5,900 |
| Reception, 30 people or more | Self-serve majlis station: gahwa, dates and a karak urn, two-hour window | from AED 45 a person |
| Hosted welcome, 40 people or more | Hosted majlis station: uniformed host for 2 to 3 hours, gahwa, dates and ROAST specialty coffee | from AED 85 a person |
| Small parent evening, about 30 people | Karak trays, 3 x 10 cups | from AED 750 |
| Gahwa for guests of honour | Standalone live karak and gahwa station | from AED 900 a day |
Worked example: a graduation reception for 100 guests
A school holds a reception after its ceremony for about 100 guests, with a majlis station and a barista cart. Using published rates only:
| Line | Calculation | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Majlis station, 100 guests | 100 x 45 | 4,500 |
| Half-day coffee cart | 1 x 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Subtotal, before VAT | 7,500 | |
| VAT at 5% | 375 | |
| Total with VAT | 7,875 |
A hosted majlis for 100 guests, with a uniformed host, would be 100 x 85 = AED 8,500 before VAT. The majlis rates are published with minimums of 30 and 40 people. This illustrates arithmetic from published rates, not a quote.
What a campus will ask
Campuses have gates, schedules and rules of their own. We ask early and write the answers into the quote.
- Approval: whether the administration must approve outside suppliers, and what paperwork it wants.
- Access: the gate and route for vehicles, visitor registration for the crew, and who meets us on arrival.
- Position and power: where the cart or station can stand, indoors or outdoors, and the outlets nearby. We do not publish a footprint or power figure; the quote confirms what the setup needs.
- Timing: the ceremony schedule, the reception window and pack-down. Set-up times are agreed on the quote.
- Guests and dietary needs: allergies and preferences flagged ahead, and whether many guests are children, so the menu is confirmed on the quote.
Carts and live stations need from five working days’ notice, and a 50% deposit confirms the date. Every order carries a VAT tax invoice with TRN, and purchase orders are accepted. See how a corporate order works.
We reply within one working day (Monday to Friday) with an itemised quote, confirming access, power and timing in writing. Every order carries a VAT tax invoice with TRN. Not sure how an order runs? Read how a corporate order works, compare a cart with a station, or use the event planning guide.
Common questions
Is the food halal?
Yes. ROAST and Cha Cha Chai are a licensed halal UAE F&B operator and everything served is halal.
How much notice do you need for a graduation?
Carts and live stations need from five working days’ notice, and a 50% deposit confirms the date. Graduation dates fill early, so ask as soon as yours is set.
What is the difference between a cart and a majlis station?
A cart is a staffed barista bar making espresso drinks to order. A majlis station is self-serve gahwa, dates and a karak urn for 30 or more people in a two-hour window. The two can run side by side.
What does the Coffee + Karak Experience include?
Everything in the Signature Bar, a live Cha Cha Chai karak and gahwa station with a dedicated server, and Cha Cha Chai street food (vada pav, samosa pav and momos). Quantities are confirmed on your quote.
Do you serve schools and universities outside Dubai?
Outside Dubai? Dubai is our home, but enquiries from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest of the UAE are welcome. Tell us the address, date and headcount and we confirm what we can do, with travel, crew and logistics shown on your written quote.
Keep planning
Sources on this site: Cart hire · Gahwa and majlis · Cost per head · Corporate hub.
Prefer a call back?
Leave your name, number and email. We reply within one working day (Monday to Friday).
- Licensed halal UAE F&B operator
- VAT tax invoice with TRN
- ROAST since 2018 · Cha Cha Chai since 2013
- Dubai-based