Shops operating late into the night in residential areas may soon be forced to close by midnight under a new proposal by the Muharraq Municipal Council.
The council has submitted a formal request to the Industry and Commerce and Interior Ministries, calling for stricter enforcement of commercial operating hours to preserve the peace and comfort of residents.
The proposal, spearheaded by council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar, comes amid growing concern over the proliferation of shops that remain open around the clock – often without the required licences or proper commercial registration (CR) permissions.
“We are not against business,” said Mr Al Naar.
“But businesses must operate within the legal framework and with respect to the community they serve,” he added.
“It is unacceptable for shops to be open 24/7 in residential areas, disturbing families, especially during late hours.”
Mr Al Naar claimed that many shops were exploiting loopholes to avoid the licensing process.
“We have discovered that several shops are working beyond the permitted hours without obtaining the proper extension licences attached to their CR,” he said.
“This is not just an administrative violation, it is a direct attack on the well-being of residents who deserve peace in their homes.”
He described the situation as ‘chaotic’, with residential blocks turning into noisy commercial zones at all hours of the night.
“These areas were not meant for such activity at night. People have called us, visited the council, and expressed their frustration. We are acting on their behalf to restore order,” he said.
The council’s proposal includes a few exceptions to the midnight closure rule, namely pharmacies, cold stores and food and beverage outlets located within petrol stations.
Mr Al Naar stressed that these services were considered essential and often needed during emergencies.
“We recognise that people may need to access medicine or basic food items during the night, which is why we have proposed logical exceptions,” he said. “This is not a blanket shutdown, it is a balanced approach.”
The Muharraq Municipal Council is urging the two ministries to conduct joint inspections, identify violators and issue fines or warnings where necessary.
Mr Al Naar said such collaboration is essential to ensure rules are applied fairly and uniformly.
“We cannot have a situation where one shop is punished while another down the street operates freely,” he said.
“There must be co-ordination, and the law must be applied equally to all.”
Beyond the technical violations, Mr Al Naar sees the issue as a broader threat to the social fabric of neighbourhoods.
“When we allow unregulated businesses to operate freely in residential areas, social contract between citizens and the authorities may get eroded,” he said.
“People begin to feel neglected as if their rights don’t matter. That’s what we are trying to fix.”
He added that while the council has limited authority to directly enforce commercial laws, it plays a critical role in shaping policy and raising concerns to the appropriate authorities.
“Our duty is to advocate for our communities. We are not regulators, but we are the voice of the people, and we are calling loudly on behalf of those who want peace and order restored in their streets,” stressed Mr Al Naar.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))