As Egypt transitions to winter time, setting clocks back by 60 minutes, attention has turned to the operating hours of retail shops, shopping malls, restaurants, cafés, and workshops. The change has sparked interest in whether these businesses need to adjust their hours. According to Article #6 of the Minister of Local Development’s Decree #456 of 2020, retail establishments began observing winter operating hours starting from the last Friday of September 2026.
Under the winter operating schedule, retail shops, shopping centers, and malls are permitted to open to the public from seven am until 10:00 pm. The regulations allow for an additional hour of operation on Thursdays and Fridays, as well as on public holidays and official observances, to accommodate increased customer demand. This flexibility enables businesses to cater to more customers during peak periods.
Workshops and craft-based businesses have designated winter operating hours from eight am to six pm. However, these hours do not apply universally to all workshops; exceptions are provided for workshops located along main roads or at gas stations, as well as for businesses that provide urgent or essential services to the public. This ensures that vital services remain accessible to the public.
Restaurants, cafés, and bazaars are permitted to welcome customers from five am until midnight. During holidays and official public breaks, operating hours are extended by one hour—until one am—in accordance with the winter operating schedule for these types of establishments. This allows customers to enjoy extended hours of service during special occasions.
Home delivery services are allowed to operate 24 hours a day, independent of closing times for restaurants and cafés. This provision caters to the growing demand for convenient and flexible food delivery services. As a result, customers can order food and beverages at any time, without being restricted by business hours.
The regulations governing the opening and closing hours of public establishments include exemptions for certain businesses, taking into account the nature of the services provided and the daily needs of the public. Grocery stores, supermarkets, and bakeries, as well as certain activities that require continuous operation throughout the night—such as fruit and vegetable shops, poultry retailers, wholesale markets, and pharmacies—are exempt from the winter operating hours.
It is essential to distinguish between “winter operating hours” and “winter time.” The former refers to the specific hours during which commercial establishments and restaurants may welcome customers, whereas the latter concerns an adjustment to the official national time—setting the clock back by 60 minutes. This distinction clarifies that the change in time does not directly impact business hours, but rather how they are perceived.
Key points
- Retail shops and malls can operate until 10:00 pm, with an additional hour on Thursdays, Fridays, and public holidays.
- Restaurants and cafés can operate until midnight, with extended hours until one am during holidays and public breaks.
- Home delivery services can operate 24 hours a day, independent of business hours.
