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Egypt Limits Business Hours to Cut Energy Costs

3/31/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Egypt will close restaurants, cafes, and shops by 9 PM for a month starting March 28 to cut energy use amid rising fuel costs tied to the Iran war.
Tourist areas are exempt.
Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, said the measure aims to curb energy use and prevent price hikes as Egypt's oil bill doubled to $2.5 billion in March.
The government expects to save about $50 million.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Yom Kippur War prompted the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) to impose an oil embargo, significantly raising global oil prices by nearly 300% by March 1974. This crisis forced countries like Egypt to adopt energy-saving measures, a trend that continues today as Egypt's oil bill surged to $2.5 billion in March 2023, reflecting ongoing challenges in energy management and economic stability.

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Story summary

Egypt will close restaurants, cafes, and shops by 9 PM for a month starting March 28 to cut energy use amid rising fuel costs tied to the Iran war.
Tourist areas are exempt.
Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, said the measure aims to curb energy use and prevent price hikes as Egypt's oil bill doubled to $2.5 billion in March.
The government expects to save about $50 million.

1 / 2