Kuwait: A draft law authorising government departments in charge of public work to operate in the evening is under study in Kuwait.
MP Faisal Al Kandari submitted the draft legislation amid a heatwave hitting Kuwait and other GCC countries.
The draft law, which must be endorsed by the National Assembly and the government, enables government offices, especially those dealing with the public, to open from 5pm to 10pm to avoid the scorching summer heat.
The bill also states that the summer evening timing should start from June 1 and continue until the end of August, a period when the temperature soars in Kuwait to around 50 degrees Celsius.
Kuwait recorded the highest temperature in the world on Saturday – 52.2 degrees Celsius in the shade – in Mitribah in the north of the country, according to member of the Arab Union of Space and Astronomy, Dr Khalid Al Zaaq of Saudi Arabia.
Soaring temperatures have also caused a spike in the consumption of power, as the load register hit 13,500 megawatts on Friday.
Informed sources said it is expected that power consumption will go over the 13,800-megawatt limit in the next three days.
Temperatures are expected to reach 51 degrees Celsius today.
Government offices currently open from around 7.30am to around 2pm for almost all departments throughout the year, except in Ramadan, when working hours are reduced.