Egypt to end early shop closures, incentivize solar energy transition

CAIRO - 27 April 2026: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered the swift launch of an incentive initiative for factories and households to transition to solar energy during a Crisis Management Committee meeting Sunday. 

The committee approved ending the 11 p.m. mandatory closure for shops, malls, and restaurants, returning to previous standard operating hours, according to a Sunday statement by Cabinet Spokesperson Mohamed El-Homsani.

During the meeting, officials reviewed global economic projections showing a slowdown in growth. The International Monetary Fund expects global growth to drop to 3.1% in 2026, down from 3.4% in 2025. A sharper decline to 1.1% is anticipated for the Middle East and North Africa region due to rising commodity prices and investor risk aversion.

The Ministry of Planning also noted that global trade growth is projected to fall from 5.1% in 2025 to 2.8% in 2026 amid fluctuating inflation trends.