Eastern European (EET)
Cairo operates on Eastern European (EET). This time zone does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET) — Standard Offset: UTC+2 (EET) — DST: Not observed
Country: Egypt
This city does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset remains constant year-round, which simplifies international scheduling.
Cairo operates on EET (UTC+2), positioning it between European and Gulf business hours. Egypt abolished DST in 2014 after repeatedly starting and stopping the practice. The constant UTC+2 offset means Cairo is 2 hours ahead of London in winter and 1 hour ahead during BST. This proximity to European time makes Cairo-Europe business coordination comfortable.
The Suez Canal — one of the world's most important shipping corridors handling 12% of global trade — operates on Cairo time. Shipping companies, logistics coordinators, and maritime insurers worldwide track EET for canal transit schedules. The canal's 24-hour operation means scheduling is constant, but business coordination with the Suez Canal Authority follows standard Cairo business hours.
Cairo's UTC+2 offset aligns with much of Eastern Europe and parts of the Middle East. Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan are in the same or adjacent time zones. The 2-hour gap with Gulf states (UAE at UTC+4, Saudi Arabia at UTC+3) is manageable for the extensive Egypt-Gulf business relationship, particularly in construction, finance, and labor markets.
Egyptian business hours typically run from 8:00 or 9:00 AM to 4:00 or 5:00 PM, Sunday through Thursday (the weekend is Friday-Saturday). During Ramadan, business hours are often shortened. The EGX (Egyptian Exchange) trades from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM EET. Cairo's ancient heritage and modern business culture coexist — the city that built the pyramids now processes billions in financial transactions on EET.