Ramadan parties strengthen business ties

With the traditions and festivities of the holy month of Ramadan well under way, iftar and sahoor invitations are no longer just for family and friends, but have increasingly become an opportunity for networking and building business connections.
“I think holding iftars or sahoors are a great way to network with clients on a personal level. We usually hold these events internally on behalf of our clients in the media,” Yahya Hamidaddin, managing director and partner at Adalid Public Relations, told Arab News.
“However, I believe it is wrong to host these events just for the sake of signing new business. When people trust you as a person, the business will increase either directly or indirectly,” he said.
Nonetheless, other businesses say it is fine to host events throughout Ramadan to strengthen business ties.
“We usually hold iftars and sahoors for our corporate clients because we want to show them that they are part of our banking family and sharing in the breaking of the fast or the early morning meal in the holiest of months is the best way to convey this message,” Farah Serafi, securities unit manager at Banque Saudi Fransi, said.
With this type of networking in mind, hotels and restaurants have decorated their ballrooms and advertised special offers for corporate events.
“Even though our hotel is currently under renovation we have opened the ballroom for corporate events and have had these occasions booked every day of Ramadan since the month began,” a sales manager at a popular hotel in Jeddah told Arab News.
He continued that he feels hosting networking events at iftars or sahoors are good for any company because most clients throughout the year connect only by impersonal means, such as telephone calls or e-mails, and meeting face to face with clients and asking them to bring their families is the best way to strengthen business relations.
“It is also positive for hotels to host these events because some clients that may not have previously known about our hotel can come check out the hall, food and tell others about their experiences and our services,” the sales manager added.
Realizing the potential opportunities Ramadan networking can bring, the Dubai Chamber is hosting a Corporate Majlis at the first Dubai Chamber Ramadan Festival, in offering a facility as a networking platform for a cross-section of business people.
“The purpose of the Ramadan Festival is, of course to promote communications between individual businesses and councils as well as to involve them in social causes during the holy month,” Hamad Buamin, director general of Dubai Chamber, said in a statement.
The festival is a first of its kind event that has attracted all sections of business and society due to its sports, cultural and entertainment activities. In addition, a number of iftar and sahoor networking opportunities, religious lectures and charity events are also being offered.