Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has issued a new decision mandating earlier closing hours for a wide range of commercial and public venues, as part of temporary regulatory measures set to take effect across the country.
Under the decision, all shops, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, and bazaars will close daily at 9:00 p.m. to the public, starting Saturday, March 28, 2026, for a period of one month. The ruling also applies to entertainment venues, including night theaters and discos.
On Thursdays, Fridays, and official holidays, closing hours will be extended to 10:00 p.m. However, delivery services for restaurants and cafes will remain operational around the clock.
The decision, issued by the Egyptian Cabinet, also extends to sports and social facilities. Clubs, youth centers, and sports establishments including those affiliated with companies and factories, will be required to close at 9:00 p.m., with the same exception allowing operations until 10:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
Certain essential services are exempt from the new regulations. Grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, ovens, and pharmacies will continue to operate without being subject to the early closing hours. The exemptions also include restaurants and cafes located in airports, seaports, land ports, and train stations, as well as those operating within hotels or licensed tourist facilities.
Additionally, the decision excludes specific tourism-focused areas from the restrictions. These include the governorates of South Sinai Governorate, Luxor Governorate, and Aswan Governorate, along with the Red Sea resort cities of Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Businesses located along the Nile riverfront in Cairo and Giza are also exempt.
The government noted that the new measures do not override existing regulations governing workshop hours within residential areas, as outlined in prior ministerial decisions. Nighttime activities for certain businesses such as fruit and vegetable vendors, poultry shops, and wholesale markets, will continue to follow their established schedules.
The move is seen as part of broader efforts to regulate commercial activity and manage public services during a period of heightened economic and regional pressures.
