Morocco Time Zone: Morocco Is Back on GMT (UTC+0)
The Morocco time zone is GMT, or UTC+0, again. On Sunday 20 September 2026 at 2:00 a.m., Moroccan clocks went back one hour, ending eight years of permanent GMT+1. The Kingdom now keeps the same time all year, with no summer time and no change during Ramadan.
Many travel sites and older devices still show Morocco at GMT+1. This guide sets out the official rule, the time difference with the main countries visitors come from, and what to check on your phone, your ferry ticket and your flight before you travel.
- Legal time: GMT (UTC+0), across the whole Kingdom, from Tangier to Lagouira.
- In force since 20 September 2026, under Decree n° 2.26.530.
- No summer time, and no clock change during Ramadan.
- Same time as London and Lisbon in winter, one hour behind them in summer.
- One hour behind Madrid and Paris in winter, two hours behind in summer.
Morocco uses Greenwich Mean Time, written GMT or UTC+0. It is the legal time of the entire Kingdom, so Tangier, Marrakech, Merzouga, Laayoune and Dakhla all keep the same hour.
In the settings of phones and computers, Morocco appears under the name Casablanca. Some systems also list a separate entry named Laayoune or El Aaiun. Both follow the same Moroccan legal time, and both read UTC+0 on an up-to-date device.
The change was announced by the Head of Government and adopted by the Government Council on 25 June 2026, then published in the Bulletin Officiel at the end of June.
The legal time returns to GMT on Sunday 20 September 2026 at 2:00 a.m., when clocks are set back to 1:00 a.m. The decree repeals Decree n° 2.18.855 of 26 October 2018, which had fixed the legal time at GMT+1.
Morocco kept Greenwich time, the natural time for its longitude, with only occasional periods of summer time in earlier decades.
Clocks moved forward one hour in spring and back in autumn, with summer time usually suspended during Ramadan.
Decree n° 2.18.855 of 26 October 2018 kept GMT+1 all year, with a temporary return to GMT during the month of Ramadan.
Decree n° 2.26.530 restores GMT as the legal time, without summer time and without the Ramadan exception.
No. Since 20 September 2026, Moroccan clocks stay on GMT all year round. Unlike the previous system, there is no change at the beginning or the end of Ramadan, so Ramadan 2027, expected around 8 February to 9 March, will begin and end with no change of time.
The differences you notice with Europe come from the European clock changes, on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. Morocco itself does not move.
Summer below means the period of European or North American summer time, roughly from late March to late October.
Same time as Morocco in winter. One hour ahead in summer.
One hour ahead of Morocco in winter. Two hours ahead in summer. The Canary Islands follow the UK pattern.
Five hours behind Morocco in winter. Four hours behind in summer.
Eight hours behind Morocco in winter. Seven hours behind in summer.
Dubai is four hours ahead of Morocco, Doha and Riyadh three hours ahead, all year.
Tickets always show local times: departure in the time of the departure country, arrival in the time of the arrival country. On the Strait of Gibraltar crossings between Tarifa or Algeciras and Tangier, Spain is one or two hours ahead of Morocco depending on the season, so a one-hour crossing can appear to arrive at the same time as it left, or even earlier.
- Read departure and arrival times as local times, not as journey duration.
- Check the time of any connection, transfer or hotel check-in against Moroccan time.
- Re-check any time you noted down yourself before September 2026, when Morocco was still on GMT+1.
Phones and computers take their time zones from a shared international database, which was updated for Morocco’s return to GMT. A device that has not been updated may still show GMT+1, one hour too late.
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Install the latest system update
Updates to iOS, Android, Windows and macOS include the new time zone data.
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Keep the time zone on automatic
With automatic date and time switched on, the device can take the correct time from the mobile network.
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Set it by hand if needed
If the time is still one hour ahead, switch off automatic time and select Casablanca. As a last resort, choose any city on UTC+0 without summer time, such as Reykjavik, until an update arrives.
Back on its natural time, Morocco now sees earlier mornings and earlier evenings than under GMT+1. The times below are approximate, calculated for the solstices.
Sunrise around 5:25 and sunset around 19:40 in June. Sunrise around 7:25 and sunset around 17:30 in December.
Sunrise around 5:10 and sunset around 19:20 in June. Sunrise around 7:10 and sunset around 17:15 in December.
Sunrise around 6:15 and sunset around 19:55 in June. Sunrise around 7:40 and sunset around 18:20 in December.
Prayer times, the hours of museums and monuments, and the timetables of trains and buses all follow the legal time. If you planned an activity at sunrise or sunset using figures published before September 2026, recalculate it one hour earlier.
What time zone is Morocco?
GMT, also written UTC+0, across the whole Kingdom since 20 September 2026.
Is Morocco GMT or GMT+1?
GMT. The permanent GMT+1 in force since 2018 was repealed by Decree n° 2.26.530, and clocks went back one hour on 20 September 2026.
Does Morocco have daylight saving time?
No. The country keeps GMT all year, with no summer time and no change during Ramadan.
Is Morocco on the same time as the UK?
In winter, yes. During British Summer Time, the UK is one hour ahead of Morocco.
What is the time difference between Morocco and Spain?
Spain is one hour ahead in winter and two hours ahead in summer. The Canary Islands keep the same time as Morocco in winter.
Do Marrakech and Casablanca have the same time?
Yes. All Moroccan cities share one legal time, from Tangier to Lagouira.
- Decree n° 2.26.530 on the legal time, Government Council of 25 June 2026Return to GMT
- Decree n° 2.18.855 of 26 October 2018Former GMT+1, repealed
- Bulletin Officiel of the Kingdom of Morocco, June 2026Publication of the decree
- IANA Time Zone Database, Africa/CasablancaDevice time zone data
Related guides: Morocco language · Morocco currency · Alcohol in Morocco
This article reflects Moroccan legal time as set by Decree n° 2.26.530. Sunrise and sunset times are approximate. Last reviewed October 2026.
