Culture - Saudi Arabia: Importance of Timing and Coordination by Carol Fleming

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Saudi Arabia: Importance of Timing and Coordination

by Carol Fleming - 02/18/2010

"Most places in Saudi Arabia will close for thirty minutes during each muslim prayer timing. As a result it is important to carefully time and coordinate ones activities in Saudi Arabia."

One only needs to be in Saudi Arabia for a short time to quickly learn that activities need to be carefully timed and coordinated with Muslim prayer times. One will hear the adhan (call for prayer) five times per day from the thousands of mosques across the Kingdom. The first call to prayer is as the sun is rising so most individuals activities are not disturbed or disrupted. However the remaining four prayers will take place from mid-afternoon to sunset.

Most businesses, restaurants, shops and other public places will close down for thirty minutes at the time of prayer. If one is already inside a restaurant and the adhan is announced, it is unlikely that customers would be asked to leave the restaurant but there would be no service over the next thirty minutes. If one is inside a place of business or a shop of some type during the call for prayer, then it is expected for the business or shop to lock up and be vacated until after the prayer is complete.

All the shops in a shopping mall will close their iron gate. Individuals shopping within the mall will not be forced to leave the mall but will have to wait thirty minutes for any shops to reopen. At the same time, at many of the public places like a mall, business or grocery store, there is a likelihood that the Muttawa (Religious Police) could be in the vicinity to further ensure all those who appear to be Muslims go and pray.
An exception which I have personally encountered during prayer time is that some grocery stores will allow women and children to remain in the grocery store while the store is locked down. Men, however, are expected to vacate the store.

It is suggested that any woman who finds herself in a mall or in a grocery store during prayer time to loosely cover her hair if she typically does not do so. This is to show respect for those who are Muslim during their time for prayers.

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Saudi Arabia: Importance of Timing and Coordination