Morocco reverts to GMT, ending GMT+1 usage

Morocco will officially revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) starting the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026. Under Decree No. 2. 26. 530, clocks will be set back by one hour at 2:00 AM, marking the permanent end of the GMT+1 time zone that the country has observed since October 2018.

The decision follows years of public debate regarding the impact of the extra hour on daily life, including health concerns related to sleep cycles, and the challenges faced by students and workers during winter months when natural light is limited. Civil society groups, such as the Moroccan Network of the Civil Alliance for Youth, have welcomed the move as a victory for public advocacy.

While the government previously defended GMT+1 for its potential energy and economic benefits, officials noted that these advantages diminish during the winter. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch indicated that the return to legal time responds to widespread citizen demands. The change will create a two-hour time difference with several European countries during the summer, reducing to one hour once those nations transition to winter time.