living in Riyadh for expats ( Archived) (2)

Saudi working hours reflect the movement in daytime temperatures. Most government offices open at 7:30 am and close at 2:30 pm Private businesses tend to work from 8:00 am until noon and then after a break reopen from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Retail banks are open from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm with the exception of an extended midday break. Shops and markets open until midnight or 11:00 pm. All shops must close during prayer times. The prayer timings shift throughout the year.

Arriyadh is very much a working capital, in which the business of government for a country of 29 million people is interlaced with the activities of commerce, industry, banking and finance, diplomacy and academia.
Because so much of the city is of recent construction, the ADA has been able to co-ordinate and plan its expansion, to ensure a modern highway system which includes two ring roads, the second of which, an eight-lane highway. A third ring road is at the planning stage. The city’s main artery is King Fahad Road, which runs roughly north to south alongside Olaya Street. Nevertheless, Arriyadh is not immune from acute and growing traffic congestion throughout much of the day. Indeed there are times, particularly during rush hours, when traffic becomes gridlocked. Drivers stuck in their vehicles may not always appreciate it, but their misfortune is a testament to the rapid success of one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.


I don't just copy and paste.... I read and become informed too.