Business Hours and National Holidays in Palestine: When traveling, or planning travel in Palestine, it’s important to keep a note of regular weekly business hours and their potential disruption based on national holidays.
Fridays in Palestine
On Fridays, the predominantly Muslim areas, which is to say, the vast majority of the West Bank, close all day. Expect heavy traffic and crowds in marketplaces on Thursday evenings in these areas, as everyone prepares for Friday celebrations. Businesses are normally open from around 8 am to 9 pm. Governmental institutions are open from 8 am to 3 pm.
Christians in Palestine
Christians only make up about 2.5% of the West Bank population, so Sunday closing of Christian-owned businesses, which are mostly in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem’s Old City, shouldn’t leave too many affected.
Life in Israel on Saturday?
On Saturday, all Israeli shops, offices, and places of entertainment close for the Shabbat. There will be restrictions on public transport on Friday evening as well as Saturday daytime, though buses and other means of transport become available again after about six in the evening on Saturday.
In addition to navigating these potential weekly disruptions to plans, it’s a good idea to take note of annual events and holidays.
In the winter period, expect Christian businesses to close for Christmas, and for Muslim businesses, the Islamic New Year on November 26th. Businesses also mostly close for Independence Day, which falls on the fifteenth of November, and features many public speeches at local schools and universities, accompanied by the occasional peaceful demonstration.
Ramadan in Palestine
Ramadan in Palestine takes place in the early Summertime, on the ninth month of the Muslim Calendar. Muslim-owned cafes and restaurants are likely to be closed during this time or have very limited opening times. Markets will be open in the evenings, and supermarkets are likely to close early. In the more conservative Muslim areas, such as Hebron, it’s advisable to avoid eating or drinking in public in the daytime during this period.
