JEDDAH: For decades, businesses and shops in Saudi Arabia would close down five times a day during prayer time. But, that won’t happen anymore.
Cars used to queue up and the customers would rush towards the mosque when the prayer is heard.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the shops and businesses will remain open during prayer time, the head of the Saudi Chambers issued the circular on Friday.
Ajlan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Ajlan, head of the Saudi Chambers said that this decision is an effort to improve the shopping experience in Saudi Arabia.
Ali Sameer Shihabi, an author and commentator on Middle East politics and economics, said that people took advantage of prayer time closure to take long breaks which made customers wait for hours.
Habibullah Al-Torkistani, also told The Islamic Information that the decision would have no effect on the economy.
