The Minister of Commerce and Industry, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani, issued Decision No. (80) of 2025, published on August 17 in the official Gazette.
Article (1) allows commercial, industrial, and similar establishments to set their own Friday working hours, except for certain exempt institutions.
Article (2) requires all such establishments to close for 1.5 hours during Friday prayers, starting from the first call to prayer.
The following commercial, industrial, and related establishments are exempt from the aforementioned requirement:
Pharmacies
Hotels and other lodging facilities
Hospitals, health centers, and private medical clinics
Fuel stations
Businesses located at the country’s entry points, including airports, land borders, and seaports
Telecommunication service providers
Facilities managing electricity and water generation equipment
Bakeries
Airline offices operating within airports and seaports
Establishments that operate continuously on a shift basis
Passenger and cargo transport services by land, sea, or air
Any additional activities designated by the competent department of the Ministry, in alignment with public interest and welfare
All relevant authorities, each within their own jurisdiction, must abide by the decision's execution, according to Article (3). It will take effect the day after it is published in the Official Gazette.
