Regulations for Ramadan tents announced

AMMAN – The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has announced a set of regulations for café and business owners who want to open tents in Amman during the fasting month of Ramadan. 

Ramadan tents are venues frequented by café goers in Amman after iftar, when Muslims break their daylong fast, spending the evening with their friends chatting and watching either football matches or special Ramadan television shows. 

Tents are expected to receive a great number of clients this year as the European football championship is scheduled to start during the fasting month. 

Those wishing to open a tent during Ramadan have to obtain approval first from the governor of Amman and the Ministry of Tourism, according to a GAM statement sent to The Jordan Times.

Working hours are supposed to start from iftar until sohour, the pre-dawn meal to prepare for the daylong fast. 

Business owners must also pay GAM JD1,000 as a refundable guarantee to ensure that they remove their tents one week after the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is expected to start on Monday or Tuesday, based on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Businesses seeking to set up a tent for their customers must have a licensed café and it has to be set up near that café, while owners of nightclubs are not allowed to open a tent during the fasting month.  

The statement said these venues have to be far from residential areas and business owners seeking to invite artists have to get approval from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Tourism.