A street remains busy even though stores have closed early to conserve energy in Cairo.
Photographer: Islam Safwat/BloombergCairo’s Legendary Late Nights Are Back After Energy Curbs Eased
Egypt’s capital is known for its all-hours buzz. A government effort to reduce power consumption has forced stores and cafés to shut up early.
Most evenings, Mohamed Ismail would sit at his local ‘ahwa, one of the small, no-frills coffee shops that are the cornerstone of social life in Cairo. He would smoke shisha and play chess with friends often until 2 or even 3 a.m., with the streets of Egypt’s capital still busy with crowds shopping, snacking and chatting.
Then came the Iran war. After energy prices soared, businesses were forced to close earlier to curb electricity use, dimming the lights on Cairo’s storied nocturnal activity. When the authorities announced on Sunday that the monthlong measures were easing, Ismail rejoiced.