Morocco will return to the Kingdom’s legal time (GMT) and end the use of the permanent GMT+1 time system starting in late summer 2026, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch announced on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Akhannouch said the decision was taken in response to longstanding public demands and followed discussions within the governing majority coalition.
“This decision comes in response to citizens’ demands,” Akhannouch said, noting that several meetings within the majority had repeatedly highlighted concerns that the additional hour created difficulties for many Moroccans.
The prime minister stressed that citizens had clear expectations regarding a return to Morocco’s legal time and said the government had a responsibility to listen to those concerns.
“We are here to listen to citizens,” he said.
Akhannouch added that the move back to GMT is intended to better align the country’s official time with the needs and daily routines of the population.
Morocco adopted permanent GMT+1 in 2018, except during the month of Ramadan when the country temporarily returns to GMT. The policy has remained controversial, with critics arguing that it affects school schedules, commuting, and work-life balance, particularly during the winter months when sunrise occurs later in the morning.
The government has not yet announced the exact date when the change will take effect, but Akhannouch indicated that the transition will begin toward the end of summer 2026.
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