Egypt Travel Guide - Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
8 Jan Coptic Christmas Day. 
10 Jan Islamic New Year. 
20 Mar Birth of the Prophet. 
25 Apr Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only).
28 Apr Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter).
1 May Labour Day.
23 Jul National Day. 
11 Sep Coptic New Year. 
6 Oct Armed Forces Day. 
1-2 Oct Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan).
8-11 Dec Grand Feast.
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

2009
7 Jan Coptic Christmas Day. 
20 Jan Islamic New Year. 
9 Mar Birth of the Prophet. 
27 Apr tbc* Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter).
25 Apr Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only).
1 May Labour Day.
23 Jul National Day. 
11 Sep tbc* Coptic New Year.
20-23 Sep Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan).
6 Oct Armed Forces Day. 
27-28 Nov Grand Feast.

(a) * These holidays are not official, although Coptic Christians may observe them. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes the Bairam Feast, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some restaurants are closed during the day but most tourist attractions and hotels are not affected. Some disruption may continue into the three-day Grand Feast itself.