CAIRO, April 8 -- At a roadside cafe in downtown Cairo, Abu Ali was mid domino throw when the lights snapped off under new early-closing orders enacted to curb Egypt's soaring energy bill due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

"I used to stay here until 2.00am," the 63-year-old told AFP, tapping his tiles as the street went dark.

"Now I'm home by 11 at most, just watching the news. This is not the Cairo we know."

The month-long order instituted last week shutters shops at 9.00pm on weekdays and 10.00pm on weekends, with a brief extension to 11.00pm expected for the Coptic Easter holidays.

It's a jarring shift for nocturnal Cairenes.

Thursday nights usually buzz with families strolling between storefronts, teenagers lingering over ice crea...