The working week, number of hours worked and timing vary considerably. Here are the main commercial hours:

• Government offices: 07.00-14.15 Saturday to Wednesday.
  
   
• Commercial organizations: Hours vary but 08.00-15.30 or 08.00-13.00 and 15.00-17.30 are common. Five day weeks are becoming favoured though many establishments still work Saturday to Thursday
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• Shops and supermarkets: Many open 08.30-12.30, 15.30-19.30 six days a week. Markets and shops open Friday mornings (times vary).
  
   
• Commercial banks: 07.30-12.00 Saturday to Wednesday, and for many branches, 15.30-17.30 on the same afternoons, 07.30-11.00 Thursdays.

During the holy month of Ramadhan, which precedes Eid-Al-Fitra . When Moslems fast during daylight hours business life slows measurably and Moslem employees are allowed shorter working hours than normal.

  Money & Currency

Bahrain is the financial services centre of the Middle East. Utilizing sophisticated worldwide communications, it serves both a regional and international clientele and provides a complete range of financial and banking services including well-developed offshore facilities.

Financial Institutions

• Commercial banks
• Specialized banks
• Offshore banking units
• Investment banks
• Representative offices Money and foreign exchange brokers
• Money changers

Both forms of payments are widely accepted in hotels and most business establishments, although some smaller shops may prefer to deal in cash. Though Bahrain has a very low crime rate, it is still important to note separately the serial numbers of your cheques or credit cards and the telephone numbers to call in case of loss. The following numbers should be useful in case your card/ cheque is lost or stolen.