Morocco has announced it will abandon permanent daylight saving time and return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) starting September 20, 2026, ending eight years of year-round GMT+1. The decision follows intense public and political debate over the measure, which was first implemented in 2018.
According to official statements, the government will shift clocks back one hour on September 20 at 2:00 AM local time, effectively moving from GMT+1 to GMT. This change aligns Morocco with its previous time zone before the 2018 reform, which had kept the country on permanent summer time.
The 2018 decision to stay on GMT+1 year-round was intended to improve energy efficiency and align with European business hours, but it faced criticism for disrupting religious practices, particularly during Ramadan, when fasting schedules conflicted with later sunsets. The new policy reverts to the pre-2018 system, which observed standard time in winter and daylight saving in summer.
No official reason was given for the reversal, but observers note that public opposition and logistical challenges likely influenced the decision. The change will affect daily life, including prayer times, school schedules, and business hours.
