Amman Chamber of Commerce Delays Shop Closing Hours Change to 2025

Amman: The Amman Chamber of Commerce has postponed the enforcement of new shop closing hours for various commercial sectors, initially slated for November 1, to the first quarter of 2025. The decision followed a meeting involving the Chamber's Board of Directors, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and leaders from unions and employers' associations. According to Jordan News Agency, Chamber President Khalil Haj Tawfiq revealed that the delay was agreed upon through discussions with the Greater Amman Municipality. The postponement allows time for the finalization of new regulations, a process expected to take about two months. This will include a survey of merchants in the impacted sectors to assess their preferences for closing times, which currently range from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Chamber has proposed varying closing times to suit different sectors' needs and will conduct an electronic poll and field survey to collect feedback from additional sectors interested in the unified closing hours. The goal is to dev elop regulations that are flexible and ensure compliance without imposing fines or additional taxes on businesses. The new regulations will be crafted in collaboration with the Greater Amman Municipality and sector representatives, with the legal committee set to review the final draft before implementation. This initiative aims to accommodate business needs while maintaining regulatory oversight.