The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has announced that shopping malls and retail outlets in the country could extend working hours throughout the holy month of Ramadan without obtaining prior approval. 
All shopping malls and retail outlets (supermarkets, hypermarkets and others) could extend working hours to 24 hours in line with efforts undertaken to stimulate commercial sectors, the MEC has said in a statement.
The ministry urged all malls and retail outlets to clearly inform consumers of their new schedule.
Throughout the holy month, shopping malls and retail outlets attract a large number of people during limited working hours, the statement noted. 
Given the “unique nature of Ramadan when time is divided between praying, working, commuting and shopping, among other preoccupations”, the ministry has urged shopping malls and retail outlets to extend working hours and inform consumers of the new hours so they could better plan their schedule and choose a convenient time for shopping, it added.
The initiative comes within the framework of the MEC’s Ramadan initiatives under the theme ‘#Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb’, Arabic for ‘#The_Least_We_Can_Do’. 
The initiatives, which are in line with the MEC’s duties towards society, have been designed to cover all aspects of the ministry’s activities in terms of organisation, partnership and support and to raise awareness about various consumer and commercial topics.
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