Decree No. 2.26.530 has now been published in Morocco’s Official Bulletin, dated 13 Muharram 1448 AH (June 29, 2026).
The country currently observes Western European Summer Time (WEST) as its standard time, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). On September 20, 2026, at 02:00 (2 am), clocks throughout the country will be turned back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is synchronous with UTC.
On June 25, the Moroccan government adopted Decree No. 2.26.530 . This repeals the 2018 decree that set WEST (UTC+1) as the default legal time and allowed for a temporary return to GMT (UTC+0) during Ramadan.
Morocco’s upcoming clock change in detail“Daily Challenge” for Citizens
The decision followed a review of the effects of using WEST, including concerns raised by the public over the past several years.
The Daylight Saving Time system created several challenges for many citizens, so we decided to respond to demands by returning to Morocco’s legal time, or GMT.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, June 25, 2026
moroccoworldnews.comPrime Minister Aziz Akhannouch’s comments came as petitions calling for an end to seasonal clock changes and observing WEST as standard time continued to circulate. One widely shared petition gathered more than 340,000 signatures.
“The adoption of Daylight Saving Time in Morocco represents a daily challenge for citizens and affects their quality of life. For many of us, the sudden shift in time leads to ongoing disruptions to our biological clocks,” the petition reads.
Morocco’s Unique Time Zone History
Morocco reintroduced seasonal clock changes in 2008. The country initially used GMT/WET as standard time and WEST as Daylight Saving Time (DST).
However, WEST was then adopted as standard time in 2018, while turning clocks back by one hour to GMT/WET each year during Ramadan. This was a unique set-up: Countries with seasonal clock changes usually turn their clocks ahead as the DST period starts.
The change in September means there will no longer be a need for a time change for Ramadan in the future.
Frequently Asked DST Questions
What is DST?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward during part of the year to make better use of natural daylight. Changing the clocks does not create extra daylight, but it shifts civil time in relation to solar time. In other words, sunrise and sunset happen an hour later, on the clock, when DST is in effect.
Is Summer Time the same as DST?
Saying “summer time” instead of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is common in many countries, especially in the United Kingdom. The term winter time is sometimes used instead of standard time, which is the official name for the period without DST.
Is DST bad for your health?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) can mess with our body clock and trigger underlying health issues. This time change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.