Business Hours On Friday, the Muslim day of communal prayer, most government offices, banks, and post offices are closed (banks are closed on Sat. as well). Other establishments, such as restaurants, remain open seven days a week. Store hours are ordinarily Saturday-Thursday 9am-2pm and 5pm-9pm (9pm in the winter), with many stores also open Friday. Government office hours are usually 9am-2pm. Do your government business in the morning, as workers often leave before official closing times. Bank hours are ordinarily Sunday-Thursday 8:30am-noon, with money exchange available daily 8:30am-noon and 4-8pm. Foreign banks keep longer business hours, usually Sunday-Thursday 8an>3pm. Archeological sites and other points of interest arc typically open 8am-6pms though in summer the most important ones in the Nile Valley open at 6am and close in the early afternoon.

During the month-long holiday of Ramadan (approx. Feb. 11-March 13 in 1994), some restaurants close entirely, while some others open only after sundown when the fast is broken. The streets empty at dusk as everyone sits down to “breakfast,” after which business resumes. Shops close at 3:30pm during Ramadan and reopen from 8-1 Ipm. In the middle of the night, about 2-3am, Egyptians sit down for the second daily meal of Ramadan (called sahur) before going to sleep. Although traveling during Ramadan can be inconvenient, the excitement of nighttime celebrations offsets daytime hassles.