Egypt imposes time restrictions for shopping centers and restaurants

Starting March 28, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced that shopping centers, restaurants, and stores will be required to close at 9:00 PM, five days a week, and at 10:00 PM on weekends. These restrictions are significant for a country where late-night shopping and dining are common. The energy-saving measures include turning off the lighting of billboards and reducing street lighting to a minimum for safety. Additionally, government agencies will close by 6:00 PM, and authorities are considering remote work for the public and private sectors. Madbouly emphasized the need to limit fuel and electricity consumption, noting that the monthly bill for gas imports has risen from $560 million to $1.65 billion due to rising prices. The measures will be reviewed in a month, depending on the evolution of the crisis.