.jpg?20260326')
The Southern Municipal Council has approved the introduction of strict timings for shops, despite arguments how widely the rule should be applied.
Under the proposal, which will now be reviewed by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, commercial outlets would be required to open no earlier than 5am and shut their doors by midnight, unless granted a 24-hour licence.
Councillors, legislators and business representatives have raised questions about whether the timings should be enforced universally or only in specific neighbourhoods.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Development Society president Ahmed Al Salloom supported the move.
Mr Al Salloom
“The opening and closing hours are acceptable for residential areas following noise and disruption complaints,” he noted in a written opinion to the council.
However, he stressed that applying the rule everywhere would be problematic.
“It is difficult for mixed-zone areas within residential areas, alongside petrol stations,” he said, pointing out that similar restrictions have technically existed for more than two decades.
“Strict timings have been in place for shops in residential areas since 2002, but they are not enforced,” he said, adding that many businesses rely heavily on having flexible opening and closing timings.
“Businesses have to operate as they wish, depending on customer flow and suitability … the rules could be enforced for specific businesses within residential areas, not everywhere.”
Mr Abdullatif
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif argued that tailoring the timings to select neighbourhoods or establishments would create unfair market distortions.
“Councillors’ demands for specific areas are not constitutional since it means some business would drop somewhere, while flourishing elsewhere in the same area, constituency, governorate or in the whole of Bahrain,” he warned.
He was supported by the council’s financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Ali Al Shaikh who reminded members that similar regulations were suspended previously for practical reasons.
“The rule was suspended for a reason and that’s minimal complaints and business affordability and proximity reasons,” he said.
He cautioned that uniform closing times could inconvenience consumers.
Mr Al Shaikh
“Customers visit particular businesses at certain times; this rule will push them away to further places,” Mr Al Shaikh argued.
“As a business, time is decided according to convenience. Decide on the business – laundries, bakeries, cold stores and so on – and accordingly suggest timings for us to consider.”
Mr Bubshait
Council vice-chairman Abdulla Bubshait insisted that stricter hours should apply across all residential zones with minimum exceptions.
“The timings have to be enforced in residential areas regardless of the service, unless it’s a pharmacy,” he said.
Mr Al Zoubi
Backing him, councillor Hamad Al Zoubi stressed that people expect action.
“People’s complaints can’t be ignored,” he said, urging the council to prioritise residents’ well-being.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))