CAIRO: Cairo’s fabled nighttime rhythm returned to life on Tuesday when Egypt relaxed energy-saving rules imposed by the Middle East war, which had forced businesses, cafés, and restaurants to close early, darkening a city long distinguished by its late-night hum.
Soaring energy prices, fueled by the US-Israel confrontation with Iran, had necessitated month-long limits on electricity consumption, compressing social and economic life in the region’s main city into unusual early hours.
Shutdowns began at 9 p.m. local time and were subsequently extended to 11 p.m., leaving streets unusually silent and fueling resentment among traders and customers.
On Sunday, the government declared that the measures will be abolished, enabling cafes and restaurants to remain open until 1 a.m. Shops and malls can be open until 11 p.m., and until midnight on weekends.
By Tuesday night, the transformation was obvious in Heliopolis, a famous eastern Cairo suburb noted for its wide boulevards, early twentieth-century architecture, and cafe culture. At 10 p.m., when chairs would ordinarily be put away, the tables were full. Arcaded buildings shone as friends gathered for shisha, families strolled with their youngsters, and lovers lingered over coffee.
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