The dewaniya or diwaniya was the reception area where a Middle Eastern man received his business colleagues and male guests. Today the term refers both to a reception hall and the gathering held in it, and visiting or hosting a dewaniya is an important feature in the culture of Eastern Arabia. It is comparable to the Diwan-khane of Persian households, and derives from the word divan, meaning a formal council room in Persian and other regional languages. Dewaniya became a fundamental part of Kuwaiti life. Hence, it has become a mark in their traditional daily life.