Egypt Puts the Clocks Back an Hour on Thursday 29 October, and Winter Shop Hours Are Already in Force
Clocks go back by 60 minutes at midnight on Thursday 29 October, the night into Friday, ending this year's daylight saving time. Shops, restaurants, bazaars and workshops across the country have already switched to their winter closing times under a Ministry of Local Development decision.
19 October 2026
Egypt returns to standard time at the end of this month: clocks go back by 60 minutes at midnight on the last Thursday of October, 29 October, Egypt Independent reported on Monday in an edited translation of Al-Masry Al-Youm. At the stroke of midnight the time shifts back to 11pm, so the night into Friday is an hour longer.
The report was published with ten days to go before the change. Daylight saving time began in April, when clocks went forward by 60 minutes; the switch back follows six months later.
One caveat on the day: the report's headline places the change on Friday, while its text dates it to midnight on Thursday 29 October. The change falls at midnight between the two.
Winter opening hours have already started
Shops, restaurants and shopping malls have already moved to winter opening hours, ahead of the official time change, under a decision issued by the Ministry of Local Development. For that decision, the summer season runs from the last Friday of April each year to the last Thursday of September.
The closing times it sets are:
- Restaurants and cafés: 5am to midnight
- Bazaars: 5am to midnight
- Retail shops and malls: 7am to 10pm, extended to 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays, official public holidays and festive occasions
- Workshops and craft businesses inside residential areas: 8am to 6pm
The rules are national, so they cover Hurghada and the rest of the coast. The report sets out no separate timetable for tourist areas, and names no local enforcement date.