As of the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026, Morocco will officially revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), marking a significant shift in the country’s timekeeping practices. At precisely 2:00 AM local time, clocks will be set back by one hour, meaning that it will become 1:00 AM. This change signifies the end of the GMT+1 time zone that Morocco had been observing for nearly eight years, a practice that began in October 2018. Previously, the country maintained a time zone one hour ahead of GMT for most of the year, only reverting to GMT during the holy month of Ramadan.
This historic decree, known as Decree No. 2.26.530, was approved by the government council on June 25 and subsequently published in the official bulletin. Unlike previous seasonal adjustments, this return to GMT is intended to be permanent, eliminating the need for any further changes during Ramadan.
Significant Time Gap with Europe
One of the most immediate impacts of this change is the newly established time difference with European countries. Starting this Sunday, Morocco will be two hours behind France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, all of which will continue to observe European Summer Time until October 25. When these countries transition to winter time, the gap will reduce to one hour. Therefore, for instance, when it is noon in Casablanca, it will be 1:00 PM in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Berlin. The following summer, when European nations adjust their clocks forward, the time difference will revert to two hours.
In contrast, the situation with the United Kingdom will differ. Morocco will observe a one-hour difference behind London until the British time change in October. After that, both regions will share the same time during the winter months.
For travelers, it is crucial to note that flight departure and arrival times will still be displayed in the local time of each airport. For example, a flight scheduled to depart from Casablanca at 10:00 AM will take off at 10:00 AM GMT, while its arrival in France will reflect French local time. This change will also visibly affect daily life, as sunrise and sunset will occur one hour earlier according to the clock. However, official schedules for schools, government offices, and businesses will not automatically adjust to reflect this new time zone.
Interestingly, the night from Saturday to Sunday will be extended by an hour, allowing residents to enjoy an additional hour before the clocks are reset. After nearly a decade of GMT+1, Morocco is returning to GMT, establishing a more consistent timekeeping system that will not require adjustment at the beginning and end of Ramadan.
As reported by bladi.net.
