All Shops Across Egypt Must Close by 10 PM Starting June 30th

Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly has announced that all shops must close by 10 PM beginning on June 30th, with the exception of supermarkets and pharmacies, which will be permitted to remain open until 1 AM.

The new limit on shops’ opening hours comes during the continuing heatwave affecting the country, which has seen a significant increase in domestic electricity consumption. This measure is being taken to reduce pressure on the power grid, leaving only the most essential stores open past 10 PM.

Load shedding across the country’s electricity network has been increased recently in response to shortages of natural gas used to power much of the grid, combined with the increased demand for electricity following the extended period of extreme temperatures. On Monday, June 24th, scheduled power cuts were extended to three hours.