Morocco’s governing coalition said Thursday that the decision to end the country’s additional one-hour time offset and return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) from Sept. 20 reflects a shared political commitment to restore the kingdom’s legal time.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the three coalition parties, the National Rally of Independents, Authenticity and Modernity Party and Istiqlal Party, said they had recently discussed the country’s adoption of GMT+1 and its administrative, economic, social and psychological effects.
The parties said they had collectively expressed their desire to return to Morocco’s legal time based on Greenwich Mean Time and reverse the additional 60-minute offset that has been in place since 2018.
The statement came after the government approved Decree No. 2.26.530 during its weekly cabinet meeting Thursday, formally paving the way for Morocco’s return to GMT.
Under the decree, clocks will be set back by one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, restoring the legal time established under a 1967 royal decree.
The coalition parties welcomed what they described as an important decision that responds to citizens’ concerns and expectations.
According to the statement, the return to GMT is expected to improve citizens’ psychological and social well-being while also aligning with current economic conditions and efforts to enhance the efficiency of public administration.
The decision marks a significant reversal of Morocco’s 2018 policy, which effectively kept the country on GMT+1 throughout most of the year. Since its introduction, the measure has remained the subject of recurring public debate, with critics arguing that it negatively affects daily routines, school schedules and quality of life.
Government officials have said the change follows sustained public demand and consultations within the ruling majority, which concluded that a return to the country’s legal time would better reflect citizens’ expectations.
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