As the holy month of Ramadan officially began in Kuwait last May 5 (Sunday), citizens and residents are concerned regarding the office and work hours set by their companies as well as for the private sector, in case government services will be needed by the people.
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Ramadan in the Middle East is observed by all of its citizens and residents, regardless of faith and nationality. Failure to abide by Islamic customs or to show consideration of these (especially in public) may land an individual in jail or pay a fine for their disrespectful behaviour, as sanctioned by the government.
Work Hours in Kuwait During Ramadan 2019
Meanwhile, working residents in Kuwait also need to observe official work hours, as set by relevant agencies and ministries in the country. Below is a guide for some of them:
For state institutions (public sector), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has set the following working hours for employees all throughout the holy month of Ramadan, as shared in a report by GDN Online.
Ministries and governmental institutions including the Ministry of Education, Information, Ports, Agriculture Authority, Youth Authority, Industry, Minors Affairs, Customs, Fire Department, Municipality, Civil Service, and so on will be working from 9:30 am till 2:00 pm in observance of the prayer and fasting to be held all throughout this period.
Other (public) institutions not specified above will be working from 10 am to 2:30 pm.
Meanwhile, those institutions considered to have special nature and functions will need to consult with the CSC for their working hours.
As for Kuwait’s Interior Ministry’s Traffic Department, work hours will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm and 2 pm to 5:00 pm in the vehicle registration, driving licenses, traffic violation investigation and driving test departments, and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm for the technical testing (car inspection) department.
Furthermore, vehicle inspection companies will operate from 10 am to 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
As per the Ministry of Interior, working hours during Ramadan at residency departments will be from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm in the six Governorates, while those that operate at night will be open from 2:30pm to 5:30 pm at Farwaniya and capital ”Al-Asimah” governorates.
As for the banks, the Kuwait Banking Association declared that the banks’ work hours during Ramadan would be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, where banks’ service hours will be from 10:00 a.m. till 1:30 p.m.
During this period, the Interior Minstry will be on the prowl to ensure safety on roads as well as to monitor any disrespectful behaviour and activities in public.
Acting Relations and Security Information Director General Brig Tawheed Al-Kandari reminded both citizens and expats that anyone seen eating or drinking in public would be fined KD 100 and jailed for up to a month maximum, or either of these penalties.
Furthermore, Al-Kandari urged the public to turn in any beggar they may come across by calling the emergency hot-line 112 or contacting the nearest police station or police officer in the area. Any expat caught begging during Ramadan will be subjected to immediate deportation, Al-Kandari warned.