From corporate leadership to the Mahjong table: Hashmat Pereira launches a structured approach to the Mahjong board game

Hashmat Pereira, a seasoned corporate leader with over two decades of experience at global and regional organizations like Mastercard, Citibank, Mashreq Bank, and Samba Financial Group, has introduced a structured approach to the Mahjong board game. The initiative, named Mahjong Success, caters to both beginners and experienced players and aims to teach the fundamentals of Mahjong while enhancing advanced skills through practical gameplay.

The program offers trainer-led instruction, strategy development, and guided gameplay to build confidence and deepen understanding of the game. Hashmat Pereira, founder of Mahjong Success, believes that Mahjong offers much more than just a recreational pastime. Its strategic, decision-making, and social aspects create an engaging environment for personal development and community building.

Mahjong Success provides a comprehensive training approach, delving into tile identification, game concepts, hand building, winning combinations, scoring, and strategic approaches. Guided sessions allow participants to apply these concepts in real-game situations, receiving tutor support and feedback to refine their understanding.

The initiative also introduces players to various Mahjong traditions, including Traditional Chinese Mahjong, Taiwanese Mahjong, American Mahjong (NMJL), and Western Mahjong, each with distinct rules, gameplay, strategies, and scoring systems.

Beyond its recreational value, Mahjong Success highlights the game's cognitive, psychological, and functional benefits. A 2024 review of 53 studies reported associations between Mahjong play and improved cognitive outcomes, while a 2020 study showed enhancements in executive-function measures among older adults with mild cognitive impairment following a 12-week Mahjong program.

In addition to instruction, Mahjong Success fosters a social dimension through tournaments, events, and informal play, creating a growing Mahjong community. The Mahjong Success Circle provides a platform for players of different skill levels to meet, play, and connect. The initiative partners with board-game cafés across Dubai, such as Hive Boardgame Cafe, THE SIX Board Game Cafe, Emaar Beachfront, Tile Board Game Cafe, Unwind Specialty Boardgame Cafe, and Dishtrict Cafe, to offer Mahjong activities in various social and gaming environments.

Furthermore, Mahjong Success integrates into corporate and digital learning with The Thinking Table and Tile Talk. The Thinking Table uses Mahjong's strategic elements to create an interactive corporate learning environment focused on critical thinking, decision-making, risk management, and team collaboration. Tile Talk offers short-form Mahjong training, tips, and strategy content on Instagram and YouTube, making resources accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.

Mahjong Success targets a wide audience, including beginners, social players, experienced enthusiasts, young adults, working professionals, seniors, families, and corporate teams. Private and customized sessions are available for office activities, corporate events, team-building programs, networking gatherings, social occasions, and community events, accessible in various settings, including offices, event venues, homes, and community spaces.