Local banks, financial institutions including insurance companies and Qatar Stock Exchange will remain closed for four days from July 28-31 in view of Eid al-Fitr.
A circular issued by Qatar Central Bank yesterday said local banks and other financial institutions will resume work after Eid holidays on August 3.
This means, banks and other financial institutions will have a six-day continuous holiday from July 28. August 1 and 2 are weekend holidays in Qatar.
Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday said QSE would have four days holiday for Eid al-Fitr, beginning July 28. Trading would commence at QSE on August 3, the stock exchange said.
Meanwhile, an industry source said exchange houses in the country are likely to remain closed only for three days in view of Eid al-Fitr, from the first day of Eid.
Local banks and financial institutions have geared up to meet customers’ requirements when they will be closed for five consecutive days from today in view of Eid al-Fitr and the weekend holidays.
Meanwhile, local banks have made some arrangements to serve customers during Eid al-Fitr through some channels.
QNB said some of its branches will function round-the-clock during the Eid holidays. These include QNB Marriott branch and e-branches at Dar Al Salam, Pearl / Porto Arabia and Al Khor Mall, the bank said in a news item posted on its website.
And from the second day of Eid, the following QNB branches will function during the normal business hours; The Mall, Villaggio, City Center, Landmark, Lagoona, West Bay Cards Centre.
Doha Bank said its branches at City Center, Abu Hamour and LuLu (D-Ring, Al Khor Mall and Gharafa) will function from 5pm to 9pm on the second, third and fourth day of Eid.
Local banks have also organised their call centres and posted field operation teams, which will be available for customer help round-the-clock, industry sources said yesterday.
All automated teller machines (ATMs) would also be under scrutiny to ensure they are sufficiently loaded with cash.
The card team in each bank has been put on maximum alert in view of the potentially higher use of credit cards by customers during Eid. Besides assisting customers, the teams will also be on the ‘lookout for any misuse’, sources said.
MoI working hours during Eid holidays
During the Eid al-Fitr holidays starting from Sunday, July 27 to Monday, August 4 the working hours of Ministry of Interior (MoI) service departments like the General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriate Affairs, General Directorate of Traffic, Criminal Evidence and Investigation Department, will be from 8am to 12noon.