Sultan’s Exchange
Negotiate, trade, and build fortunes in a lively 1800s Arabian marketplace.
About
Step back into the 1800s Trucial States, where merchant families barter dates, camels, fish, spices, pearls, water, cash and valuable information to build their fortunes.
Divided into trading families and armed with bags of authentic Arabian goods, teams are challenged to maximise their family’s prosperity. Success depends on asking the right questions, reading other families’ needs, and negotiating deals that work for everyone involved.
Information only becomes powerful when it is shared. Final scores reflect how effectively each family engaged with others, turning communication, trust and networking into the true currency of the marketplace.
Learning outcomes
Sultan’s Exchange is a fast-paced, intelligent exercise in negotiation, where teams trade goods and information in pursuit of maximising their own family's wealth and standing.
Although the challenge is framed as a competition between families, the most successful groups quickly discover that collaboration is the real path to victory. By seeking out win-win agreements with rival families, teams unlock deals that benefit everyone while still protecting their own interests.
Participants leave with a sharper sense of how negotiation really works, why shared information is more valuable than hoarded information, and how strong, trust-based relationships ultimately drive long-term success in business and in life.
Program flow
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Welcome & Family Formation
Participants are divided into trading families and briefed on the history and objectives of the challenge.
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Trade Bag Distribution
Each family receives a bag of authentic Arabian trade goods, including dates, camels, fish, spices, pearls, water and cash.
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Open Market Negotiations
Families move freely through the marketplace, questioning and trading with other families to uncover opportunities.
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Strategic Deal Making
Teams apply negotiation and listening skills to identify hidden needs and secure mutually beneficial trades.
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Market Close & Scoring
Trading ends and final family wealth is calculated based on the quality and success of their exchanges.
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Debrief & Key Takeaways
Facilitators connect the experience to real-world negotiation, networking and relationship-building lessons.
What is included
Included
- Professional facilitation team
- All Arabian-themed trade goods and props
- Customised scoring and briefing materials
- Full group debrief and key takeaways
Not included
- Venue hire and refreshments
- Travel and accommodation
- Audio-visual equipment, if required
- Printed materials beyond standard kits
Frequently asked questions
How many people can take part?
The program runs with a minimum of 12 participants and can scale to unlimited numbers, making it ideal for large groups and conferences.
Can this be run indoors and outdoors?
Yes, the activity is fully flexible and can be delivered indoors, outdoors, or as a mix of both.
Is this activity competitive or collaborative?
Both. Families compete to grow their own prosperity, but the most successful teams achieve this through genuine, win-win collaboration with others.
How long does the program take?
It can be tailored to run anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on group size and objectives.
What skills does this activity develop?
It strengthens negotiation, questioning and networking skills, while highlighting the real value of sharing information.
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Request a quote for Sultan’s Exchange
Tell us your group size, date and goals. We will reply with a tailored proposal.