Egypt has scrapped the early closing rule for shops and restaurants, leading to the return of normal working hours across the country. It was the decision Announce On Sunday, April 26, after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Officials reviewed how previous restrictions had affected businesses and the economy before deciding to roll back them.
Under the new rules, shops and malls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and remain open until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and public holidays. Allowing restaurants and cafes to operate from 5:00 am to 1:00 am. Delivery and takeaway services will continue around the clock. Workshops in residential areas will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with some exceptions for urgent services.
Essential services such as supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies and wholesale markets will continue to operate without restrictions.
The early shutdown rule was implemented on March 28 to reduce electricity and fuel use for an initial period of one month. Initially, businesses had to close as early as 9:00 p.m., with slightly longer hours on weekends. Later, the government extended the closing time until 11:00 pm until April 27 after mixed reactions from the public and business owners, which began during the Sham El Nessim holiday and Coptic Easter.
Officials said the policy helped save energy, but it also affected business activity, especially in crowded areas where many people shop and eat late at night.
During the meeting, the government also discussed broader economic challenges, including rising prices and slowing global growth. Growth is expected to grow around the world slow slightly in 2026, and the Middle East and North Africa region may witness slower growth.
To confront these challenges, the government plans to secure adequate supplies of food and fuel, closely monitor markets to control prices, and encourage the use of solar energy in homes and factories.
Despite the lifting of restrictions, officials said they will continue to carefully monitor markets to ensure that prices remain fair and that essential goods remain available. A return to normal business hours is expected to help businesses recover while continuing to monitor energy use and economic stability.