How Does Sunday & Holiday Hours Work in Egypt?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
Friday is the holy day in Egypt — many businesses close Friday morning, and the work week officially runs Sunday to Thursday.
2What You Need to Know
Egypt's official working week runs Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Friday morning is reserved for Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) and most government offices, many banks, and local businesses close for several hours. Tourist attractions are generally open every day of the week. Ramadan dramatically affects all opening hours — restaurants open after sunset, businesses run reduced daytime hours, and alcohol sales are restricted. Public holidays such as Islamic New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha also cause widespread closures for several days.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Visit busy sites like the Egyptian Museum or Khan el-Khalili on weekdays (Sunday–Thursday) to avoid local weekend crowds
- 2During Ramadan, plan sightseeing in the morning and embrace the festive iftar (breaking fast) atmosphere after sunset
- 3Check Islamic holiday dates before travel — Eid al-Adha in particular causes multi-day nationwide closures
Important Warning
During Ramadan, eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is illegal and deeply disrespectful — violations can lead to fines or detention.
How does this compare?
Sunday & Holiday Hours rules in nearby and similar countries:
The UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday. Businesses close on Friday for prayers. Malls are open 7 days a week. Ramadan significantly changes all hours.
Friday is Morocco's holy day with mosque attendance and partial business closures at midday, while souks follow their own complex weekly schedules.
The Saudi weekend is Thursday–Friday; shops and malls open 7 days but close briefly 5 times daily for prayer; Ramadan dramatically changes all hours.
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