Corporate iftar event in Dubai: a hosted evening for your guests
ROAST × Cha Cha Chai hosts the hospitality side of a company iftar in Dubai: gahwa from the dallah, premium dates and karak at a majlis station for 30 guests or more, a uniformed host for 2 to 3 hours at a hosted station for 40 or more, and a live karak station or karak flasks for smaller groups. Each is quoted per event to your guest count. The meal itself comes from your own caterer or the venue. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting.
An iftar evening for clients, a delegation or the whole staff is less about the food than about the welcome, the pacing and the people who stay afterwards. This page shows how a hosted evening is usually shaped, what we supply, what your venue or caterer supplies, and what to settle before you ask for a quote. For the office-wide month, see the Ramadan 2027 office planner; for daily drinks supply to teams, see corporate iftar catering.
Ramadan 2027 dates: Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting; Eid al-Fitr is expected around 9–10 March 2027.
Quoted per event. Send the guest count, date and venue; we reply within one working day (Monday to Friday).
What we bring to the evening
| Format | What your guests get | Minimum and quoting |
|---|---|---|
| Majlis station | Gahwa from the dallah, premium dates and a karak urn, self-serve in a two-hour window | 30 people; quoted per person |
| Hosted station | The same station with a uniformed host for 2 to 3 hours | 40 people; quoted per person |
| Live karak station | Cha Cha Chai karak poured live, with its own server | Quoted per event |
| Karak flasks and trays | 1L flasks (about six cups) and 10-cup trays for smaller gatherings | Quoted per order |
The formats and minimums come from our corporate iftar catering page. Karak is explained in the karak guide, and trays and flasks are on the karak catering page.
Who supplies the meal
We do not sell an iftar meal and we will not pretend otherwise. Food for the evening comes from your own caterer or from the venue’s kitchen; we supply the gahwa, dates and karak around it. Tell your caterer where the station will stand so the two services do not queue in the same corner, and tell us if the venue has rules about what may be poured or served where.
The run of the evening
A hosted iftar usually follows the same arc. We agree the service window in your quote and do not publish fixed clock times, because maghrib moves through the month.
- Before maghrib: guests arrive and are welcomed with gahwa and dates at the station, which gives latecomers somewhere to land while the room fills.
- At maghrib: the fast is broken with dates, and the meal is served by your caterer or the venue.
- After the meal: the majlis and karak come into their own, with guests drifting between conversation and a hot cup.
- Taraweeh wind-down: some guests leave for prayer and some stay. A quieter karak round keeps those who remain comfortable, and a host, if you have booked one, sees guests off.
Sizing by guest count
| Guests | Format to ask about |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Karak flasks or trays, or a live karak station. Count the cups, divide by six and round up for flasks. |
| 30 to 39 | A self-serve majlis station, quoted per person with a minimum of 30. |
| 40 and above | A hosted station with a uniformed host for 2 to 3 hours, minimum 40. |
| Several rooms or hundreds | Send the number and the layout; each event is quoted individually. |
Who to invite
Clients and delegations usually want the hosted format, because a person welcoming guests sets the tone. A staff iftar can run as a self-serve majlis, which suits people who move around and talk. A mixed evening of staff and guests often works best as a hosted station with the staff acting as hosts. Count everyone who will be in the room, including partners and drivers if they are invited, and give us the final number as early as you can.
Venue and approvals
Offices, terraces, hotel rooms and tents all work in principle. What matters is whether the venue allows outside food and beverage, where the station can stand, how our crew reaches it and when setup may begin. Hotels and managed buildings often need approval first. Our venue requirements checklist is written for coffee carts, but the same questions apply to any station; power, access and setup timings are confirmed in writing on your quote. If you also want a barista cart at the same event, see coffee cart hire.
Planning checklist
- Guest count, split between staff and invited guests.
- The evening, or two or three options, with the expected Ramadan dates in mind.
- Venue, floor or terrace, and any approval it requires.
- Who supplies the meal, and where the station should stand.
- Indoor or outdoor, and where karak can be poured safely.
- Whether you want a host, and for how long.
- A purchase order or invoice contact for procurement.
Live stations and hosted evenings need at least 5 working days’ notice, and a 50% deposit confirms the booking. For Ramadan 2027 we suggest sending headcount and dates in December or January. Everyday corporate events are covered under corporate catering in Dubai, and the first morning back after Eid is on the Eid office catering page.
UAE-wide: enquiries from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates are welcome and quoted per event.
Packages and how quotes work: see the corporate rate card 2026 →
Common questions
When is Ramadan 2027, and when should we plan the iftar evening?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around 8 February 2027 and end around 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr on or around 9 to 10 March. All dates are expected and subject to moon sighting. Send your headcount and the evenings you have in mind in December or January and we hold them.
UAE corporate calendarWhat do you bring to a hosted company iftar?
The drinks and hospitality side of the evening: gahwa poured from the dallah, premium dates and karak from an urn at a majlis station, with a uniformed host for 2 to 3 hours at a hosted station. A live karak station and karak flasks or trays are the other formats. Each is quoted per event.
Corporate iftar catering formatsDo you supply the iftar meal itself?
No. We supply gahwa, dates and karak. The meal comes from your own caterer or the venue’s kitchen, and we work around it. If you want something we have not published, tell us on the form and we confirm honestly what we can do.
What are the minimum guest numbers?
A majlis station is quoted for a minimum of 30 people and a hosted station for a minimum of 40. For smaller groups, karak flasks and trays or a live karak station are the formats to ask about.
Karak flasks and traysHow do we size the evening by guest count?
Under 30 guests suits karak in flasks or trays, or a live karak station. From 30 guests a self-serve majlis station works; from 40 a uniformed host makes the evening feel hosted. For flasks, count the cups, divide by six (a 1L flask is about six cups) and round up.
Sizing guide on this pageHow is a corporate iftar event quoted?
Per event, to your headcount, the format, the venue and access, and the date and notice. We reply within one working day (Monday to Friday) with a written, itemised quote after you send the headcount, date and venue.
Corporate rate card 2026Can the iftar be held at a hotel, a terrace or a tent?
Yes, wherever your venue allows outside food and beverage. Offices, terraces, hotel rooms and tents all work in principle; access, setup window and any venue approval are confirmed in writing on your quote.
Venue requirements checklistHow much notice do you need, and how is the booking confirmed?
Live stations and hosted evenings need at least 5 working days’ notice, and we suggest sending your details in December or January for Ramadan 2027. A 50% deposit confirms the booking.
Can you help with taraweeh timing?
We plan the evening around your guests: arrival before maghrib, the meal, then karak and the majlis for those who stay. Guests who leave for taraweeh can be caught on their return. Service windows are agreed in your quote; we do not publish fixed clock times.
The run of the eveningDo you host iftar events outside Dubai?
Dubai is our home, but enquiries from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest of the UAE are welcome. Each event is quoted individually, with travel, crew and logistics shown on your written quote.
Coffee cart and event hireKeep planning
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Leave your name, number and email. We reply within one working day (Monday to Friday).
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- VAT tax invoice with TRN
- ROAST since 2018 · Cha Cha Chai since 2013
- Dubai-based