Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced an exceptional decree on Friday, extending commercial operating hours across the country. Effective immediately, retail shops and commercial outlets are permitted to remain open until 11:00 PM, a two-hour extension from the previous 9:00 PM curfew.
The Prime Minister confirmed during his weekly press conference that this adjustment, which originally took effect on March 28 and was scheduled to run through April 27, will remain in place to accommodate citizens during the ongoing holiday season. The extension coincides with the Easter celebrations and Sham El-Nessim, aiming to alleviate pressure on consumers and stimulate domestic trade during the festive period.
According to Madbouly, the decision is a direct response to shifting international dynamics—specifically the recent ceasefire reached between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This diplomatic breakthrough has led to a relative decline in global fuel prices, providing the Egyptian government with the fiscal flexibility to ease energy-saving measures that had previously mandated the early 9:00 PM closure.
The Prime Minister emphasized that while the move is intended to support commercial activity and ease the burden on the public, the government continues to monitor global energy markets closely.
