Eastern European Time (Cairo)

Egypt uses Eastern European Time (EET) at UTC+2 year-round. Egypt has had a turbulent history with DST — it was observed intermittently from 1988 to 2014, often suspended during Ramadan when the longer fasting hours made the extra daylight unpopular. Since 2014, Egypt has not observed DST. Cairo is Africa's largest city and one of the oldest in the world, with the nearby Giza pyramids and Sphinx dating back over 4,500 years. The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) in Cairo is one of Africa's most established stock markets and operates on EET. The Suez Canal, one of the world's most important waterways connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, operates on Cairo time — about 12% of global trade passes through this channel. Egypt's timezone aligns with much of Eastern Europe and Southern Africa, facilitating business across both regions. Cairo's Al-Azhar University, founded in 970 CE, is one of the world's oldest degree-granting institutions. Modern Egypt is a regional power in the Middle East and North Africa, and Cairo serves as the headquarters for the Arab League. The city's strategic position at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe makes its timezone a natural reference point for MENA business.