Egypt will transition from summer time to winter time on Friday, October 30, 2026, by turning clocks back 60 minutes at midnight. The official time change follows the framework established by Law No. 24 of 2023, arriving alongside distinct seasonal operating schedules for commercial shops, cafes, and workshops across the country.
Countdown to the October Clock Change Across Egypt
The return to winter time in Egypt arrives at midnight between Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, 2026. As clocks strike twelve, they will be turned backward by 60 minutes to read 11:00 PM once more, effectively repeating the hour and ending a daylight saving schedule that began on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Law No. 24 of 2023 governs the rotation between summer and winter hours, establishing that daylight saving operates through the final Thursday of October before handing the schedule back to standard winter time. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives in April 2023 with the stated goal of optimizing daylight hours and rationalizing energy consumption.
While modern smartphones and internet-connected devices typically handle the shift autonomously—relying on network time protocols and settings like Automatic date and time
or Automatic time set
—officials advise residents to verify that automatic time-zone adjustments are enabled under standard operating preferences. Apple users are similarly directed to confirm that Set Automatically
is active within general date settings to prevent scheduling confusion across transport networks, work shifts, and educational timetables.
Local Authorities Enforce Winter Closing Hours for Shops
Commercial activity operates under a separate ministerial framework—specifically Ministerial Decree No. 456 of 2020—which dictates opening and closing hours for public shops independently of the exact date clocks are turned back. Local authorities across governorates including Minya and Sharqia have launched enforcement campaigns to ensure businesses comply with winter operating limits.
| Commercial Activity | Standard Daily Hours | Thursday, Friday & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Shops and Malls | 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Restaurants and Cafes | 5:00 AM – 12:00 Midnight | 5:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Workshops and Crafts | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Essential providers remain exempt from these closing restrictions. Grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, poultry shops, and wholesale food markets continue operations outside standard closing caps to maintain community supply lines. Delivery and takeaway services from restaurants also retain clearance to run around the clock without interruption.
General Survey Authority Adjusts Daily Prayer Schedules
Because the shift alters local solar alignment relative to official clocks, the Egyptian General Survey Authority adjusts daily prayer schedules across every governorate. On the first official day of winter time on October 30, 2026, Fajr prayer is scheduled for 4:39 AM, sunrise occurs at 6:07 AM, and Dhuhr is called at 11:39 AM, with subsequent prayers shifting backward by a full hour relative to the summer schedule.
At the municipal level, regional administrators are coupling time adjustments with seasonal weather preparations. In Sharqia Governorate, executive councils directed local units to clear storm drains, maintain water pumps, and inspect public lighting networks ahead of approaching winter rains.
