Minister of Local Development and Environment, Manal Awad, who also heads the Supreme Committee for Public Shop Licensing, announced the closing times for shops, restaurants, and cafes during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
This is an exception to the closing times stipulated in Committee Decision #456 of 2020.
In a press statement on Monday, the minister indicated that the decision reflects the government’s commitment to provide a suitable environment for citizens during Ramadan, while balancing the demands of economic activity with maintaining public order.
According to the decision, shops, malls, restaurants, cafes, and bazaars will close daily at 2:00 AM during Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday this year, she explained.
Takeaway and home delivery services will continue to operate 24 hours a day for restaurants and cafes.
Workshops located within residential areas are required to close daily at 10:00 PM, with the exception of those located on roads and at gas stations.
Awad added that the decision exempts essential services for citizens, such as grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, and ovens, while taking into account the operating hours of certain other businesses, such as fruit and vegetable shops, poultry shops, wholesale markets, and pharmacies, to ensure the continued provision of essential services.
She continued that the decision will be in effect from Wednesday until the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The minister ordered executive bodies across the nation to ensure the implementation of the decision throughout the holy month.
She also directed them to maintain continuous coordination with the relevant authorities and to instruct the heads of districts, cities, and neighborhoods to activate monitoring committees across the nation to conduct campaigns targeting all commercial establishments to ensure their compliance with the opening and closing times, and take any legal action against violators.
