As Muslims across Egypt prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Tuesday, many families are grappling with rising costs at Cairo’s traditional Sayyida Zeinab market.
Inflation Dampens Festive Spirit
Residents say prices for Ramadan essentials have doubled compared to last year. “Prices are definitely high and increase every year compared to the previous year, so demand is low,” said Cairo resident Hossam Mohamed Sobhi. He noted that lanterns once priced at 50–60 Egyptian pounds ($1.1–1.3) now cost between 150–200 pounds ($3.2–4.2).
Vendors are adjusting to the economic strain by offering tiered pricing.
“Sales are lower than in previous years, and prices are somehow high, especially for all imported goods. Therefore, we have introduced three different categories for each item: expensive, medium, and cheap,” explained trader Mohamed El Sayyed.
Traders Struggle With Costs
Shopkeepers insist they cannot lower prices further without incurring losses. Ibrahim El Khatib, who sells dates, highlighted the challenge:
“Some people are demanding that date prices be lower, but that’s impossible. Prices range between 20–35 Egyptian pounds (less than $1). The truck that brings the dates from Aswan does not cost less than 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($212) for transportation.”
Government Support Measures
To ease the burden, Egyptian authorities have allocated more than $850 million to support vulnerable families during Ramadan. Government employees will also receive their salaries early to help households prepare for the festive season.
Ramadan Timeline
Ramadan in Egypt is expected to begin on February 17 and run until March 19, with markets and households across the country adjusting to both the spiritual and economic realities of the season.
