RABAT – If you live in Morocco, you likely woke up today feeling a bit more rested. At 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, the whole country officially moved its clocks back by one hour. This shift marks the end of “summer time” for a few weeks as everyone gets ready for the holy month of Ramadan.
This isn’t just a random change. The government does this every year to make the long days of fasting a little easier. By returning to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the sun sets an hour earlier on the clock. This means families can sit down for their Iftar meal sooner in the evening. For many, that one-hour difference makes a huge impact on how they feel during the day.
Changes to Work and Daily Life
It isn’t just the clocks that are changing. Life in Morocco takes on a different pace during Ramadan, and the government has adjusted official hours to match.
Public offices and most government buildings are now switching to a “continuous” schedule. Instead of staying open late, they will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day from Monday to Friday. The goal is simple: get people home early so they have time to rest, pray, and prepare food. Also, the government asked offices to be extra helpful on Fridays so that workers can attend their weekly prayers without any stress.
The Never-Ending Debate
Even though this happens every year, people still have a lot to say about it. Since 2018, Morocco has stayed on GMT+1 for most of the year. The government likes this system because it saves on electricity bills and keeps the country in sync with businesses in Europe.
But not everyone is happy about it. A recent study showed that nearly half of Moroccans actually want to stay on standard time all year round. Many parents find it tough when their kids have to walk to school in the dark during the winter. Some people even say that the “Ramadan reset” proves that the usual time system is a bit unnatural for daily life. They feel that if we need to change it for a holy month, maybe we should reconsider if it works for the other eleven months, too.
What Happens Next?
This slower pace won’t last forever. Once the month of fasting ends, the country will “spring forward” again.
The Ministry has already set the date for the next change: Sunday, March 22, 2026. At 2:00 a.m. that morning, everyone will add an hour back to their clocks and return to the GMT+1 system.
For now, though, the country is happy to take a breath and follow a more traditional rhythm. It’s a time for family and reflection, and the new clock reflects that perfectly.
