The Return of Egyptian Winter Time: Everything Travelers Need to Know
10/30/20243 min read


This Thursday night, Egypt will be transitioning back to winter time, meaning that at 1:00 AM on Friday, the clocks will roll back by one hour. This shift brings Egypt back to a local time difference of two hours ahead of GMT. For most of us, this means an extra hour of sleep—but for travelers, the time shift introduces some changes to keep in mind. Here’s a comprehensive guide to how the switch to winter time could affect your travel plans.
What Is Egyptian Winter Time, and Why Does It Matter?
Egypt observes seasonal time changes, aligning with winter time during the cooler months and adjusting to daylight saving time in the summer. This year’s transition to winter time means Egypt will have a two-hour time difference from GMT instead of three. While this change may seem minor, it can create confusion for travelers, especially those with flights or transportation schedules around the time of the switch.
How Could This Change Affect Your Travel Schedule?
Flight Departures and Arrival Times
Most airlines and tourism companies issue tickets based on the local time zone of the departure country. For flights out of Egypt, the times displayed are typically in Egyptian local time, which means they have accounted for this seasonal change. If your ticket says 1:00 AM on Friday as the departure time, that remains your scheduled time with no need for adjustments.
However, there are cases where tickets might display times in Universal Time, also known as UTC or GMT. This is common for international itineraries where consistency across time zones is crucial. If your ticket uses UTC, the change can be a bit confusing: 1:00 AM on Friday in GMT would now translate to 3:00 AM in Egyptian local time.
For example:
• Tickets in Local Time (LT): If your flight says 1:00 AM on Friday, and the time zone is marked as LT (Local Time), this already factors in the time change.
• Tickets in UTC or GMT: If the time on your ticket is shown as 1:00 AM in GMT, after the time change, the local departure time would be 3:00 AM.
How to Tell if Your Ticket Displays Local or Universal Time
To make sure you’re interpreting your ticket correctly, check the time label on your ticket. Here’s how to differentiate:
• Local Time (LT): Indicates that the time shown is the time zone of Egypt, already adjusted for winter time.
• UTC or GMT: Represents Universal Time, which requires adjusting to local time. In this case, you’ll need to account for Egypt’s winter time difference and add two hours.
What About Connecting Flights and Layovers?
If you have connecting flights, pay close attention to how the time change might affect your layover. Ensure that you’ve adjusted all of your travel times accurately, as the seasonal shift can lead to delays or unexpected waiting periods if any portion of your journey uses UTC. It’s best to confirm any details with your airline, especially if you’re worried about tight layovers or close departure times around 1:00 AM on Friday.
Essential Tips for Smooth Winter Travel in Egypt
1. Double-Check Your Departure Time: Look at your ticket closely to identify whether it’s in LT (Local Time) or UTC/GMT. This will help you understand whether or not you need to adjust for winter time.
2. Contact Your Airline: Different airlines may handle time changes differently. Reaching out to your airline for confirmation can save you the hassle of last-minute surprises.
3. Keep Travel Apps Updated: Many travel apps and online booking systems will update automatically to reflect local time, but it’s wise to manually verify the times for accuracy.
Don’t Forget: Inform Friends and Family
With Egypt’s winter time back in effect, keep your friends and family in the loop, especially if they’re picking you up from the airport or coordinating with your travel plans. Share this information to ensure that no one else gets caught off-guard by the time shift.
Found this helpful? Pass it along to others who might be traveling soon! The return of Egyptian winter time doesn’t have to be complicated—just take a few extra steps to make sure your travel goes smoothly.
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