JEDDAH: Merchants and citizens have stressed that because of negative effects of closing stores and shops at 9 p.m., the idea of closing at 9 should be shelved.
Store owners say that their sales have dropped along with their importing of goods.
Shipping companies have also experienced problems regarding timings for unloading goods.
Moreover, they said that traffic congestion increases at 9 p.m. which is when the stores and shops close.
On the other hand, a survey by Al-Madinah shows 53 percent of readers agree with the decision to close shops and markets at 9 p.m.; 45 percent, however, rejected the decision while 2 percent said they did not care.
Omar Bagarsh explained that the decision contributed to limiting shopping times in the Kingdom which cost merchants a portion of their income.
Mohammed Al-Ahdal, a citizen, said that the decision also contributed to increasing traffic congestion, especially when owners start closing the stores, adding that Umrah and Haj seasons could bring about a change in the decision.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed the results of a study that pointed to the difficulty of implementing the decision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to close shops at 9 p.m.
The study showed that 72 percent of customers go to stores at 9 p.m. or after which means that the implementation of the decision would result in major economic losses since 90 percent of pilgrims in the Western Region pass through Jeddah where they shop day and night, throughout the week.
Mohammed Saeed Dardir from the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the expected positive results of the 9 p.m. closure had not been proven. The early closure, he said, would not reduce electricity consumption because residential consumption would continue.
He added that the decision would further not reduce traffic because shoppers will rush into the streets to complete their shopping before closing time close while others would spend their time on the Corniche or in coffee shops and restaurants.
Store owners say that their sales have dropped along with their importing of goods.
Shipping companies have also experienced problems regarding timings for unloading goods.
Moreover, they said that traffic congestion increases at 9 p.m. which is when the stores and shops close.
On the other hand, a survey by Al-Madinah shows 53 percent of readers agree with the decision to close shops and markets at 9 p.m.; 45 percent, however, rejected the decision while 2 percent said they did not care.
Omar Bagarsh explained that the decision contributed to limiting shopping times in the Kingdom which cost merchants a portion of their income.
Mohammed Al-Ahdal, a citizen, said that the decision also contributed to increasing traffic congestion, especially when owners start closing the stores, adding that Umrah and Haj seasons could bring about a change in the decision.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed the results of a study that pointed to the difficulty of implementing the decision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to close shops at 9 p.m.
The study showed that 72 percent of customers go to stores at 9 p.m. or after which means that the implementation of the decision would result in major economic losses since 90 percent of pilgrims in the Western Region pass through Jeddah where they shop day and night, throughout the week.
Mohammed Saeed Dardir from the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the expected positive results of the 9 p.m. closure had not been proven. The early closure, he said, would not reduce electricity consumption because residential consumption would continue.
He added that the decision would further not reduce traffic because shoppers will rush into the streets to complete their shopping before closing time close while others would spend their time on the Corniche or in coffee shops and restaurants.
