Morocco's Final Time Change: A Return to GMT
On September 20, 2026, at 2:00 AM, Morocco will officially revert its clocks back by one hour, marking a significant shift from GMT+1 to GMT. This transition will occur for the last time, as the government has announced that the country will abandon the GMT+1 time zone permanently. The decision to change the time was first revealed in June during the government’s announcement to discontinue GMT+1, and it has been formalized in decree number 2.26.530, published in the official bulletin on June 29, 2026. The decree clearly states that the clocks will be set back by 60 minutes on that Sunday morning.
The Implications of the Time Change
The adjustment means that, during the night between Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, clocks will need to be set back one hour. Thus, at 2:00 AM, it will officially be 1:00 AM. Devices such as smartphones that are automatically synchronized to Morocco's time zone will update themselves, but travelers are advised to double-check their tickets and schedules to avoid confusion. This change also affects Moroccans living abroad, particularly in Europe. Countries like France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands will remain on daylight saving time, resulting in a two-hour difference between these nations and Morocco until they switch to standard time.
The previous GMT+1 system was implemented in 2018, with a temporary suspension each year during Ramadan. The new decree abolishes this arrangement, reflecting the government's response to longstanding public criticism regarding the time changes that many found confusing and inconvenient. This return to GMT is seen as a move to simplify timekeeping and address the concerns raised by the populace.
As reported by bladi.net.
