One hour forward, one step toward energy resilience

Egypt springs forward tonight. At exactly midnight, clocks will advance by one hour, jumping straight to 1:00 AM, as daylight saving time comes into effect for another year.

The practical impact on daily life is minimal: working hours and scheduled appointments remain unchanged. The main disruption, as always, will be felt in bedrooms rather than boardrooms, as the body's internal clock takes a few days to adjust to the lost hour of sleep.

First reintroduced in 2023 after a seven-year absence, the measure is rooted in energy policy. The government estimates that daylight saving time saves around 10% of electricity consumption,  a significant figure for a country working to reduce fuel imports and ease pressure on its foreign currency reserves.

This year, the stakes are higher than usual. 

Egypt has rolled out a broader package of energy-saving measures, including early shop closures, partial remote working arrangements and reduced street lighting, amid supply disruptions linked to the ongoing Iran-US conflict, which has rattled energy markets across the region.

One hour forward, one step toward energy resilience.