Preparing for Ramadan and other seasons

Preparing for Ramadan takes five steps: set branch hours to the night ordering pattern, schedule shifts around the reduced working hours, buy stock early, set up the delivery-app account, and decide how to cover costs before sales are paid out.

This guide is for owners of restaurants, cafes and cloud kitchens that sell on delivery apps. Planning tips are editorial suggestions, not official rules. Official facts name their source.

What are the key dates?

• Occasion: Start of Ramadan 1448
• Expected date: set by the Umm al-Qura calendar and moon sighting

• Occasion: Eid al-Fitr
• Expected date: set by the Umm al-Qura calendar and moon sighting

• Occasion: Founding Day
• Expected date: 22 February 2027

• Occasion: Eid al-Adha
• Expected date: set by the Umm al-Qura calendar and moon sighting

• Occasion: National Day
• Expected date: 23 September 2027

Ramadan and Eid dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar and are settled by moon sighting, so they can move by a day. Founding Day and National Day fall on fixed Gregorian dates. The Founding Day holiday was set by royal decree, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced the National Day private-sector holiday for 2026, so check each year's announcement.

How does demand change in Ramadan?

Activity moves to the evening and night. Arab News reported on 2 March 2026 that activity rises between Taraweeh prayers and suhoor, and that food delivery, dessert trucks and cafes report their highest footfall after midnight. We give no percentages because they differ by city and by type of business.

In practice: review each branch's hours, prepare the kitchen for late hours, and watch your own sales in the first weeks to learn your branch's pattern.

What are the legal working-hour limits in Ramadan?

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Labor Law Article 98 limits working hours for Muslim employees in Ramadan to 6 hours a day or 36 hours a week, against 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week at other times. Hours beyond the limit count as overtime. Under Article 107, overtime is paid at the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic wage for each hour. With the employee's consent, paid days off can replace overtime pay.

In practice: split shifts so no employee passes the daily limit, and add a shift instead of relying on overtime.

How do you prepare stock and supplier orders?

These are editorial tips, not rules:

• Order early and agree delivery dates with the supplier before the Eid closures.
• Keep a minimum buffer of core items.
• Do not over-order perishables.
• Schedule deliveries outside the late-night peak.

What should you set in the app account?

A general checklist, because each app sets its own steps:

• Opening hours for each branch, matching the real night hours.
• Availability and busy settings.
• Menu, prices, photos and offers.
• Contact and payout details.
• Branch closure for the Eid days and the reopening date.

How do you cover costs before payouts arrive?

In the first weeks of Ramadan you may pay wages, stock and rent before app payouts arrive. This is the cash-flow gap. Write a simple weekly table of expected costs and expected payouts to see its size. Each app sets its own payout cycle.

The options, in no order: your own cash, buying from suppliers on credit, and bank finance. Kafalah is a guarantee program that covers part of the lender's risk, not a loan to the merchant, so ask the bank for current terms.

Saleaah (سلعة) offers Expansion solutions: we deduct your financing from your next payout, and no other collateral is needed.

What about records in a busy month?

Keep purchase invoices and payout statements.

What about the other seasons?

For every season, check three things: hours, stock and staffing.

• Founding Day (22 February): an official annual holiday under a royal decree issued on 27 January 2022; the Ministry announced it for the private sector in 2024. Check each year's announcement.
• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: check supplier closures, staff scheduling and branch closure in the app.
• National Day (23 September): the Ministry announced Wednesday 23 September 2026 as a private-sector holiday. We have not confirmed that it repeats in the same way each year, so check each year's announcement.
• School holidays: check the Ministry of Education's approved academic calendar for term and holiday dates.

Preparation checklist

• Confirm the start of Ramadan from official announcements.
• Adjust branch hours to the night pattern.
• Schedule shifts within the hour limits.
• Order stock and agree delivery dates.
• Review the app account: hours, menu, offers, payout details.
• Estimate the cash-flow gap.
• Keep invoices and statements.

Check current terms with the body or provider concerned.

This guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the bodies, providers or apps named. Corrections: email info@saleaah.com or WhatsApp +966550449156.