Egypt imposes business curfew to counter soaring fuel costs

Egypt has ordered shops, restaurants and shopping malls to close from 9pm, hoping to curb energy bills that have more than doubled because of the Iran war.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the curfew, which will come in to effect from Saturday, stating that it would last for a month initially.

"Shops, shopping centres, restaurants and cafes will all close at 9pm on weekdays," he said, adding that on Thursdays and Fridays they will be allowed to stay open until 10pm.

Madbouly said that before the war, Egypt's monthly energy bill was $560m. Today, for the same quantity, he said Egypt is paying $1.65bn.

Madbouly said Cairo must work on the "worst-case scenario" in the face of an unpredictable war.

Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said the new restrictions "will not affect tourists" or flagship destinations.

At the beginning of the month, Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway in peacetime.

The rerouting of shipping away from the Suez Canal is also depriving Cairo of a vital source of foreign currency.