As Egypt suddenly flips to daylight saving time – for a bit – everyone asks: What time is it?

CAIRO – Egypt’s sudden flip to daylight saving time has everyone asking the same question: What time is it?

The decision to move clocks ahead one hour, now putting the country seven hours ahead of New York, saw computers and mobile phones showing the wrong time Friday. Worried employees at Cairo International Airport made sure to make announcements and scurried to help passengers, though the flights appeared calm during the day.

At mosques across the country, some worshippers arrived early and others late for Friday prayers. However, Muslim prayer times depend on the sun — not clocks.

Egypt’s military-backed interim government made the decision to move clocks ahead as a power-saving measure. It will flip back next month as people begin celebrating the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, then resume until September.