Cairo and all of Egypt run on EET (UTC+2). Learn how Egyptian time compares to Europe, the US, and the Middle East.
Egypt uses a single, stable timezone year-round: Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2). Since discontinuing Daylight Saving Time in 2011, Egypt has become one of the most predictable countries to schedule with in the MENA region — Cairo's time never changes. This guide gives you every conversion, historical fact, and practical tip for working with Egypt Standard Time.
Egypt Time Zone Details
All of Egypt, including Cairo, Alexandria, and the Sinai Peninsula, observes Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) year-round. The IANA identifier is Africa/Cairo. Egypt permanently abolished Daylight Saving Time by government decree in April 2011, ending a decades-long debate about its economic usefulness.
Egypt Time vs. the World
| City | Timezone | Difference from Cairo (UTC+2) | Noon in Cairo = ? |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (winter) | GMT | UTC+2 ahead of London | 10:00 AM in London |
| Paris / Berlin (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | 1 hour ahead | 11:00 AM |
| New York (winter) | EST (UTC−5) | 7 hours ahead | 5:00 AM |
| Dubai | GST (UTC+4) | 2 hours behind | 2:00 PM |
| Mumbai | IST (UTC+5:30) | 3.5 hours behind | 3:30 PM |
| Beijing | CST (UTC+8) | 6 hours behind | 6:00 PM |
ℹ️ Egypt vs. Israel Time
Egypt (UTC+2, no DST) and Israel (UTC+2, with DST) are in the same standard timezone but diverge during Israeli DST periods when Israel moves to UTC+3. During Israeli summer, Tel Aviv is 1 hour ahead of Cairo — a common source of confusion for border region businesses.
Expert Tip — Egypt for Forex Traders
Cairo overlaps with the London forex open from 10:00 AM–11:00 AM EET. The Cairo Stock Exchange (EGX) operates Sunday–Thursday, 10:00 AM–2:30 PM EET (UTC+2). Egypt's Islamic finance calendar means the market is closed Friday and Saturday — critical knowledge for international traders.
Data Sources
- [1]IANA tz database (Africa/Cairo) — iana.org
- [2]Egyptian Government DST abolition decree, April 2011
- [3]Egyptian Exchange (EGX) official trading hours — egx.com.eg
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Egypt in?+
Egypt is in the Eastern European Time zone (EET), which is UTC+2. Egypt does not currently observe Daylight Saving Time.
Does Egypt have Daylight Saving Time?+
No. Egypt discontinued Daylight Saving Time in 2011 and remains on Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) year-round.
What is the time difference between Egypt and the USA?+
Egypt (EET, UTC+2) is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5) in winter, and 6 hours ahead during US summer (EDT, UTC-4).
What time zone is Cairo in?+
Cairo is in the Africa/Cairo timezone, which corresponds to Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) without any Daylight Saving adjustments.
Is Egypt in a different time zone than Israel?+
Egypt (UTC+2, no DST) and Israel (UTC+2, with DST in summer becoming UTC+3) are in the same standard timezone but diverge during Israeli DST periods when Israel moves to UTC+3.