A majlis sofa for Jeddah should be chosen for the Red Sea climate as much as for the room: removable covers that wash, colours that stay fresh, and outdoor fabric for roofs and terraces. Sofhu manufactures Arabic jalsa sets in Türkiye to your wall measurements, with 32 kg/m³ foam, and ships them free to Saudi Arabia.
- Maker
- Sofhu, manufacturer in Türkiye
- Made to
- Your wall measurements
- Foam
- 32 kg/m³ (32 DNS), no springs
- Indoor covers
- Zippered, machine washable at 30°C
- Outdoor line
- Wooden frames, water-resistant fabric
- Shipping to Jeddah
- Free
On this page
Jeddah receives guests differently from Riyadh. The old houses of Al-Balad rise several storeys, with a maq’ad on the ground floor for visitors and upper rooms cooled by carved wooden rawashin that catch the sea breeze. Modern Jeddah has kept some of that openness, and roofs and terraces are popular places to sit. A majlis sofa for Jeddah is made with all of that in mind. Sofhu builds each set in Türkiye to the room’s measurements and ships it free to Saudi Arabia. It makes two indoor products: the Arabic majlis, a raised, fully upholstered jalsa at sofa height, and the Arabic floor sofa, a low set of seat mattresses and loose cushions.
Climate comes first on the Red Sea
Jeddah is hot and very humid all year. That is the fact to design around, and it leads to three plain rules.
- Every cover must come off. Sofhu’s covers are zippered and removable, and the company states they can be machine washed at 30°C. Wash them on a routine, not only after a spill.
- Let the cushions breathe. Stand seat cushions on edge now and then so the underside airs, especially in rooms where the air conditioning is switched off for part of the day.
- Use outdoor fabric outdoors. Indoor velvet on an open terrace will take up damp and salt.
The zip in the picture is the small part that makes the first rule possible. For a fuller comparison of materials see velvet vs linen vs jacquard.
An Arabic jalsa for the guest room
Inside the house the layout follows the room. A family reception room usually takes a U shape on three walls, as in the teal majlis below, with the open side towards the door. A smaller sitting room does well with an L shape like the black and gold majlis at the top of the page, which keeps one wall free.
Colour is where a coastal room can allow itself some freedom. Teal, turquoise, green and warm neutrals all sit well with the bright coastal light. That is a matter of taste, not a rule of the tradition, and the same models are made in dark, formal colours if you prefer them. The Arabic jalsa hub shows the range, and the Saudi majlis page explains how Hijaz, Najd and Asir differ.
Roof and seafront seating
For the roof, the terrace or a courtyard, Sofhu makes outdoor sofas and benches on handmade wooden frames with water-resistant fabric. The benches below are set in a U around a low table, which is the outdoor version of the same idea: everyone faces everyone.
Be realistic about exposure. The fabric is described as coping with light rain and moisture, and nothing has been published about years of direct sun. Shade the seating, and bring the cushions under cover when the terrace is empty. Options are set out on the outdoor majlis hub and the existing outdoor sofas and benches page.
Ramadan nights and Hajj-season guests
Two seasons fill Jeddah’s houses. In Ramadan the evening visits run late, and during the Hajj many families host relatives passing through the city. Both put pressure on seating: more people than usual, for longer than usual.
Dense foam is the part of the set that answers that. Sofhu fills its seats with 32 kg/m³ polyurethane foam, known as 32 DNS. Density is the amount of material in the cushion, and denser foam generally keeps its height and support longer under heavy use. Hardness is chosen separately, and you can ask for a softer or firmer seat.
For the arrangement of the room on busy nights see the iftar and Eid seating plan and the existing article on Arabic sofas for Ramadan meetings.
How an order reaches Jeddah
Measure each wall, mark doors, windows and air-conditioning units, and send the figures with photos through get a quote by measurement or WhatsApp. Sofhu sends back a layout and a price for your room. Once you approve it the set is made, vacuum packed and shipped free from Türkiye to your door. Duties or taxes may apply depending on the destination, so ask Sofhu before you order. Ordering a majlis in the GCC covers the general steps.
The national overview is on Arabic sofa in Saudi Arabia. For the Gulf coast see Dammam, and for the cool highlands see Abha.
