Africa · Northern Africa · Sovereign state
Current time in Egypt
A single time zone at UTC+03:00. Currently observing daylight saving time.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
About Egypt's time
A single time zone.
Egypt sits entirely within a single timezone, recently re-adopting daylight saving time after years of on-and-off experimentation. Time shifts from UTC+2 in winter to UTC+3 during summer months.
Next clock change
2026 Thursday · clocks fall back
Clocks fall back by one hour · in 5 months.
Daylight saving schedule
Major cities
Cities of Egypt.
History
How Egypt keeps time.
Egypt's relationship with daylight saving time has been one of the most inconsistent in the world. The country first observed DST during World War II under British influence (1940–1945), then again starting in 1957. For decades, Egypt shifted between UTC+2 (EET) and UTC+3 (EEST) each year.
In 2010, shortly after President Obama's Cairo speech, the transitional government abolished DST effective October 2010, observing it for the last time on September 10. For several years, Egypt stayed on permanent UTC+2. In 2014, DST was briefly restored by presidential decree under Adly Mansour but was dropped again after Mohamed Morsi's presidency, with the exception of a Ramadan-related suspension to shorten fasting hours.
After years of inconsistency, Egypt finally reinstated DST in April 2023 under President el-Sisi by a law passed that March, shifting permanently to a pattern of UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. The stated goal was energy conservation and better alignment with daylight hours.
Did you know?
Things about Egypt's time.
Egypt's time policy has often been influenced by religious considerations more than astronomical or economic ones. During Ramadan, the government has occasionally suspended DST to reduce fasting hours — since fasting begins at dawn, pushing clocks forward means an extra hour of daylight to fast through.
Geographically, Egypt's vast territory spans roughly 11° of longitude (from ~25°E to ~36°E), meaning solar noon in Aswan (Upper Egypt) occurs about 40 minutes later than in Alexandria. Yet the entire country observes the same time, creating the familiar pattern of western and eastern ends of the country sharing an official clock time while experiencing different solar days.
Cairo's UTC+3 summer time makes it closely aligned with Moscow and East Africa during summer months, facilitating business and political coordination with both regions.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Egypt's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- Does Egypt observe daylight saving time?
- Yes. Egypt re-adopted DST in 2023 after several years without it. Clocks spring forward from UTC+2 (EET) to UTC+3 (EEST) in late April and fall back in late October.
- What is Egypt's UTC offset in summer vs winter?
- In summer, during DST, Egypt is at UTC+3. In winter, it reverts to UTC+2 (Eastern European Time).
- Why did Egypt have such inconsistent DST policies?
- Egypt's DST history has been influenced by energy policy debates, religious concerns about Ramadan fasting hours, and shifting government priorities. Different administrations have reversed DST policies multiple times since 1940, leading to the country's inconsistent track record.
- Is Egypt 2 hours ahead of UTC year-round?
- Not anymore. Since re-adopting DST in 2023, Egypt alternates: UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer.
- How does Egypt's timezone compare to nearby countries?
- During summer DST, Egypt (UTC+3) aligns with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In winter (UTC+2), it aligns with neighboring Libya, Sudan, and South Africa. This shifts throughout the year, so business travelers should always verify the current offset.
- Why was DST briefly suspended during Ramadan?
- During Ramadan, fasting begins at dawn (Fajr). By canceling DST for the holy month, the government effectively delayed sunrise on the clock by an hour, shortening the fasting window. This was done several times in the early 2010s.
- What time zone is Cairo in?
- Cairo follows Africa/Cairo, which is UTC+2 in winter (EET) and UTC+3 during summer DST (EEST), typically from late April to late October.
- When does Egypt change clocks?
- Egypt typically moves clocks forward on the last Friday of April and back on the last Friday of October, though exact dates can vary slightly year to year by government announcement.
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