Egypt exempts 4 essential sectors from new early closing rules

2026-03-27 - 18:10

As Egypt prepares to launch its national energy conservation drive this Saturday, March 28, 2026, the Cabinet has identified four critical sectors that will remain exempt from the new early closing hours. To ensure the public’s basic needs are met and the economy remains stable, the following activities will continue their standard operations: The health sector: All hospitals, medical centers, and pharmacies will remain open 24/7. The food sector: Supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, and fresh produce shops (fruits and vegetables) are excluded from the mandatory closures. The industrial sector: To protect national output, all factories and production facilities will maintain their regular shifts. Essential utilities: Fuel stations, as well as water and gas service stations, will continue to provide uninterrupted service. New closing hours Starting tomorrow, most commercial activities will be required to close their doors by 9:00 PM on weekdays. On Thursdays and Fridays, this window is extended to 10:00 PM to accommodate weekend foot traffic. Affected establishments include: Shopping malls and all retail stores (clothing, electronics, and household goods). Cafés, cafeterias, and restaurants. Takeaway and home delivery services are permitted to operate 24 hours a day. Wedding halls, social event venues, and amusement parks. The economic driver The Egyptian government is implementing these measures to mitigate a significant spike in energy costs. Regional tensions have driven the national bill for gas and fuel imports up by approximately US$1.1 billion per month. By reducing commercial electricity consumption during peak night hours, the state aims to alleviate the mounting strain on the national power grid and stabilize the economy.