Sultan’s Exchange
Negotiate, trade, and build fortunes in a lively 1800s Arabian marketplace.
About
Step back in time to the Trucial States of the 1800s, where fortune favors the bold negotiator. In this fast-paced trading challenge, teams become merchant families competing to build the greatest prosperity through the exchange of dates, camels, fish, spices, pearls, water, currency, and valuable information.
Divided into trading families and equipped with a bag of authentic Arabian-themed goods, groups must uncover the needs of rival families through sharp questioning and skilled negotiation. Success depends on crafting win-win deals rather than one-sided victories.
Information only has value when it is shared, and the most successful families are those who master the art of networking and relationship-building. Final results are driven entirely by each team’s level of engagement and strategic outreach.
This immersive experience sharpens communication, highlights the power of positive relationships, and reveals just how much value lies in the exchange of information.
Learning outcomes
This is a sharp, fast-moving exercise in negotiation, where teams trade goods and information to maximize their family's fortune. Although structured as a competition, the most successful groups quickly discover that genuine collaboration with rivals produces far greater rewards than isolated dealing.
Participants learn to balance self-interest with cooperation, recognizing that information and resources only generate value once they are exchanged. This mirrors real workplace dynamics, where cross-departmental communication and trust often determine success more than individual effort.
Teams are challenged to ask better questions, listen actively, and identify mutually beneficial outcomes rather than pursuing short-term wins. The experience reinforces that strong networks and positive relationships are strategic assets, not just social nice-to-haves.
By the end, groups walk away with a sharper understanding of negotiation tactics, the true cost of poor communication, and how collaborative competition can elevate everyone's results.
Program flow
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Welcome and Family Formation
Participants are divided into trading families and briefed on the marketplace scenario, their goals, and the rules of engagement.
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Trading Bags Distributed
Each family receives a bag of Arabian-themed trade goods and begins assessing their resources and strategy.
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Open Marketplace Trading
Families move freely between one another, asking questions, negotiating deals, and exchanging goods and information to build prosperity.
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Strategic Renegotiation
As market dynamics shift, teams adapt their approach, seeking new alliances and better deals to maximize their standing.
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Market Close and Scoring
Trading ends and final family fortunes are calculated based on successful exchanges and strategic engagement.
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Debrief and Insights
Facilitators lead a discussion connecting the trading experience to real-world negotiation, networking, and communication skills.
What is included
Included
- Professional facilitation team
- All trading goods and props
- Family kits and briefing materials
- Scoring and results presentation
- Debrief session with key takeaways
Not included
- Venue hire
- Catering and refreshments
- Audio-visual equipment
- Travel and accommodation
- Printed certificates (unless requested)
Frequently asked questions
How many people can take part?
The activity works with a minimum of 12 participants and can scale to accommodate very large groups.
Is this activity competitive or collaborative?
Both. While families compete to maximize their own prosperity, the most successful teams win through genuine collaboration with others.
Can this be run indoors and outdoors?
Yes, the activity is flexible and can be delivered in indoor venues or outdoor spaces.
How long does the session take?
Sessions typically run between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on group size and objectives.
Do participants need prior negotiation experience?
No prior experience is needed. The activity is designed to be intuitive, with facilitators guiding participants throughout.
What skills does this activity develop?
It builds negotiation, communication, networking, and strategic relationship-building skills applicable to real workplace scenarios.
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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.