Egypt will officially return to winter time on Friday, October 30, 2026, bringing an end to daylight saving time after approximately six months.
At the end of Thursday, October 29, clocks across the country will be moved back by one hour, returning Egypt to its standard time for the winter months.
The change comes in accordance with Law No. 24 of 2023, which regulates the annual application of daylight saving time in Egypt. Under the law, clocks are moved forward by 60 minutes beginning on the final Friday of April and remain that way until the end of the final Thursday of October each year.
When Will Egypt Change the Clocks in 2026?
The last Thursday of October falls on October 29 in 2026, making it the final day of daylight saving time.
Once Thursday ends and the country moves into Friday, October 30, clocks will be turned back by 60 minutes.
That means when the clock reaches midnight at the end of October 29, people will adjust their clocks backward by one hour as Egypt returns to standard winter time.
In practical terms, Friday, October 30 will be the first full day operating under the winter schedule.
Why Does Egypt Change the Time?
Egypt restored daylight saving time in 2023 as part of efforts to make greater use of daylight hours and reduce energy consumption.
The system moves clocks forward during the warmer months, when daylight lasts longer, allowing more daily activity to take place while natural light is still available.
According to the parliamentary report behind the legislation, the policy was introduced as an energy-saving measure amid changing global economic conditions and rising pressure on energy resources.
By returning clocks to standard time in late October, daily schedules are brought back in line with shorter winter daylight hours.
Daylight Saving Time Began in April 2026
Egypt began applying daylight saving time for 2026 on the last Friday of April.
At that point, clocks were advanced by one hour, giving the country an additional hour of evening daylight during the spring and summer months.
The summer schedule remains in place until the end of Thursday, October 29.
Once winter time begins, Egypt will move from UTC+3 back to UTC+2.
What Will Change After the Clock Goes Back?
The one-hour adjustment will affect everything tied to the official time, including work schedules, school times, public transport, flights, television broadcasts and appointments.
Sunrise and sunset will also appear one hour earlier on the clock.
For example, if sunset had been taking place at around 6 PM shortly before the switch, it would appear closer to 5 PM after the time change, even though the actual amount of daylight changes gradually rather than suddenly.
For many people, the most noticeable difference will therefore be darker evenings arriving earlier.
Will Phones Change the Time Automatically?
Most smartphones, computers and connected devices should update automatically as long as their automatic date and time settings are enabled and the device has the correct Egypt time zone selected.
However, manually set clocks may need to be changed by hand.
This can include some watches, wall clocks, car clocks and older electronic devices.
Users may want to check their devices on the morning of October 30, particularly if they have early appointments, flights or work commitments.
Why Is the Time Change Scheduled Around Friday?
Egypt’s system places the annual clock changes around Friday, when many employees and institutions have a weekly day off.
This is intended to reduce disruption caused by the time adjustment and give people an opportunity to adapt before the start of the next working week.
Reports explaining the 2026 schedule note that choosing Friday helps minimize potential confusion affecting workplaces, government institutions and other services.
Egypt Reintroduced Daylight Saving Time in 2023
Egypt has changed its approach to daylight saving time several times over the decades.
The country stopped applying the system for several years before Parliament approved its return in 2023.
Law No. 24 of 2023 established the current annual schedule, setting daylight saving time from the last Friday in April until the end of the last Thursday in October.
The system has continued under that framework since its reintroduction.
When Will Daylight Saving Time Return in 2027?
Unless the law is changed, daylight saving time will return again on the last Friday of April 2027.
At that point, clocks will once again move forward by one hour for the spring and summer period.
Until then, Egypt will remain on its standard winter time throughout the cooler months.
For 2026, the key date to remember is Thursday, October 29, which marks the final day of daylight saving time.
Winter time officially begins on Friday, October 30, when clocks across Egypt move back by one hour.
