Decades after Saudi Arabia closing stores and shops during prayer times, businesses are now allowed to stay open during those timings, according to a Friday circular released by the Federation of Saudi Chambers.
Retail stores keeping open during prayer timings will reinforce preventive measures against the coronavirus and help avoid the crowding and gathering of shoppers and have them wait for less time to complete their customer experience.
“The move aims at improving the shopping experience in coordination with related authorities,” said the Federation.
It also urged operators of commercial activities to take “appropriate measures” to organize work, provide services, and workers’ rotation in a way that does not hamper them and customers from performing prayers.
These prayers are held at dawn, midday, mid-afternoon, sunset, and evening.
“Overcrowding of customers and shoppers while waiting for the stores to open after prayers are completed was a factor in spreading the virus,” Saudi academic and economy expert Salem Bajaja told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The expert moved on to point out that allowing conditions for gatherings to occur contradicted the state’s policy on preserving the health of citizens, residents, and visitors through implementing all possible preventive measures to combat the pandemic.
“The closing process was a waste of time for both the merchant and the customer,” said Bajaja in a comment about how the shuttering during prayer timings hampered the flow of businesses.
He added that it is essential for shop owners to organize workers’ shifts in a way that does not affect prayers, and at the same time, avoid crowding of shoppers while waiting at prayer times.
“The closure of some major facilities such as pharmacies and gas stations disrupts people’s interests,” remarked Bajaja.
