Ramadan timetable 2027 in Cairo: calculated times
In Cairo, the Ramadan timetable 2027 consists of all the imsak and iftar times of the fasting month, expected from 8 February to 8 March. On the last day of the table, imsak is set at 04:44 and iftar at 17:58.
Cairo's first day of Ramadan 2027 is expected on Monday 8 February, with imsak at 05:10 and the first iftar at 17:38. That opening fast lasts 12 h 28 min, and the Egyptian capital adds about three quarters of an hour by the end.
| Day | Imsak | Fajr | Sunrise | Iftar (maghrib) | Isha | Fasting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – Mon 8 Feb | 05:10 | 05:20 | 06:41 | 17:38 | 18:54 | 12 h 28 |
| Day 15 – Mon 22 Feb | 04:59 | 05:09 | 06:29 | 17:49 | 19:04 | 12 h 50 |
| Day 29 – Mon 8 Mar | 04:44 | 04:54 | 06:14 | 17:58 | 19:13 | 13 h 14 |
Calculated estimates (18°/17° (MWL)). The IslamicFinder widget above shows today’s times; check with your local mosque.
Sunset before six in February
Egypt keeps standard time, UTC+2, during winter, and Cairo sits close to the 30th meridian on which that time is based. As a result the sun sets early in February, giving an iftar well before six o'clock throughout Ramadan 2027.
Day-1 times in detail
The table above gives fajr at 05:20, sunrise at 06:41 and isha at 18:54 for the first day. Imsak, ten minutes before fajr, is when the mesaharati's drum and the radio remind families to end suhoor before the dawn adhan.
From 12 h 28 to 13 h 14
At thirty degrees north, Cairo's late-winter days lengthen steadily. The fast lasts 12 h 50 min on 22 February, from 04:59 to 17:49, and 13 h 14 min on 8 March, the 29th day, from 04:44 to 17:58.
Over the course of the month, suhoor ends twenty-six minutes earlier and iftar arrives twenty minutes later. The extra forty-six minutes are noticeable in the last ten days, when tarawih and qiyam prayers also shorten the night.
Why official Egyptian times differ
Here the Muslim World League angles apply: the sun 18 degrees below the horizon at fajr, 17 at isha. The official Egyptian timetable uses a deeper angle for dawn, so its fajr usually comes several minutes earlier than the time shown in the table.
Dar al-Ifta and the crescent
Egypt's Dar al-Ifta proclaims the new month once observers have looked for the crescent at sunset on 29 Sha'ban, and its statement is broadcast live on national television. In 2027, that observation evening should be Sunday 7 February.
A confirmed sighting would make Monday 8 February the first fast; otherwise it would be Tuesday. Cairenes expect Laylat al-Qadr on the night of Friday 5 March; Eid al-Fitr should come on Tuesday 9 March, or on Wednesday 10 March after thirty days of fasting.
Lanterns, cannon and charity tables
Weeks before Ramadan, the streets around Khan el-Khalili and Sayyida Zeinab glow with fawanees, the colourful lanterns that symbolise the month. The iftar cannon, a tradition dating back centuries, is still associated with the moment of breaking the fast.
Mawa'id al-Rahman, the free iftar tables set up in streets and outside mosques, feed large numbers of people every evening. After the meal, crowds head to Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Hussein Mosque for tarawih, and the old city stays awake until suhoor.
Food and practical tips
Cairene iftar often begins with dates and khoshaf, dried fruit soaked in sweet water, followed by soup, rice, stuffed vegetables and meat. Konafa and qatayef are the essential desserts, while ful medames remains the classic dish at suhoor.
The capital's traffic reaches its peak in the hour before the maghrib adhan, as millions try to reach home in time. Many residents keep dates and a bottle of water in the car, and volunteers hand out drinks at major junctions.
- Leave work early: traffic peaks in the hour before 17:38.
- Accept invitations to mawa'id if you are travelling alone.
- Buy konafa and qatayef in the morning to avoid queues.
- Use the official Egyptian calendar for mosque prayer times.
Is iftar in Alexandria at the same time?
Almost. Alexandria breaks its first fast at 17:41, three minutes after Cairo, because its westerly position outweighs its slightly more northerly latitude. The fast lengths are nearly the same, 12 h 26 min in Alexandria against 12 h 28 in Cairo.
Do working hours change in Egypt during Ramadan?
Yes. Government offices in Egypt traditionally reduce working hours during the month, and many businesses follow suit. Shops, however, often stay open late into the night, especially in the run-up to Eid al-Fitr and its clothes shopping.