The word literally means 'a place of sitting'. In a home, it's the formal reception room — separate from the family area, furnished for guests, often with floor cushions and a low table. As an institution, the majlis is how Emiratis have historically conducted affairs: open, accessible, anyone can come and speak. The UAE's ruling tradition has its roots in majlis culture. Don't confuse formality with inaccessibility — a majlis is by definition open.