Getting Around Egypt When Winter Time Starts in 2026: Your Guide to Evening Trips at the Meter Price

Egypt returns to winter time when the clocks go back 60 minutes at midnight on Thursday 29 October 2026, becoming 11 pm, and winter time starts on Friday 30 October. With it, sunset in Mansoura comes at around 5 pm, so office workers, students and evening classes all head home after dark. The time change does not alter the taxi price on Taxi Masr, but it does change how you plan your evening trips.

How does winter time change evening trips?

• Darkness at rush hour: anyone leaving work or a class between 5 and 8 pm travels home in the dark, so door-to-door rides matter more.
• Family worries: when 6 pm already feels like night, parents worry about waiting on the street or getting into an unknown car.
• Weather: cold and rain in autumn and winter, and long waits on the pavement.
• Travel times: in the first days, some people miscalculate train or travel times after the change.

What changes on Taxi Masr, and what does not?

• The price does not change: EGP 20 to start + EGP 5 per km + EGP 0.50 per minute, with no surge for demand or rain.
• The night rate follows the clock, not the dark: 25% more from midnight to 5 am Egypt time, so a 6 pm trip is at the daytime price even after dark.
• Automatic night sharing follows the clock too: from 10 pm to 6 am. For trips between 5 and 10 pm, share the trip yourself with one tap on the trip screen.
• The app follows Egypt time automatically: the night and sharing windows use local time after the change, with nothing for you to set.

5 steps to safer evening trips

1. Request from indoors: book while you are still inside, follow the captain on the map, and go out when they arrive.
2. Share the trip: send the live tracking link to your family; it opens on any phone without the app.
3. Match the car: the captain's name, plate number, car colour and model are in the app before they arrive.
4. Schedule your regular trips: a class or lecture that ends at the same time every week? Schedule the ride home; the app reminds you 15 minutes before and starts searching for a captain about 10 minutes before the time.
5. Know the SOS button: throughout the trip it alerts the Taxi Masr team and your contacts and sends your location.

Comparing evening options

Worked example

A 4 km trip expected to take 12 minutes at 6 pm: 20 + (4 × 5) + (12 × 0.50) = EGP 46, the same as at 2 pm. After midnight it becomes EGP 57.50. If the taxi drops off three colleagues with two stops on the way, the whole route is priced once, and the fare can be split equally between them in the app.

For captains: the winter evening shift

• Demand starts earlier: with early darkness, more people book a taxi instead of walking to the stand.
• A fair price for you: minutes are counted in the meter, the commission is only 5%, and tips are yours in full.
• Clarity before accepting: you see the pickup, destination and fare before you accept, and the rider is registered with a phone number.

Frequently asked questions about winter time and getting around

When does winter time start in Egypt in 2026?

The clocks go back 60 minutes at midnight on Thursday 29 October 2026, and winter time starts on Friday 30 October.

Does winter time change the taxi price in the app?

No. The formula is the same, and the 25% night rate starts at midnight Egypt time after the change, not at sunset.

Will a 7 pm trip be shared with my family automatically?

Automatic sharing covers trips between 10 pm and 6 am. Before that, share the trip yourself with the tracking link on the trip screen.

Can I book a taxi for my daughter coming home from an evening class?

Yes. Book from your account with "Book for someone else" and follow the trip from your phone. Accounts are for people aged 18 and over.

What happens to a scheduled ride on the day the clocks change?

Open the trip in the app after the clocks change and check its time is what you want; if not, cancel it and book again.

Winter shortens the day, not your safety. Download Taxi Masr, book your evening trips at the meter price, and share them with your family.