Every year, Morocco hits pause on daylight saving for roughly 30 days. The reason isn't political or economic. It's Ramadan. Since 2012, the country has turned its clocks back by one hour at the start of the holy month and left them there until Eid al-Fitr. The result: a country that runs on UTC+1 most of the year but drops to UTC+0 when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Here's the short answer: Yes, Morocco changes clocks during Ramadan, by turning them back and leaving them alone. The country suspends daylight saving time (DST) for the entire holy month, shifting from UTC+1 to standard time (UTC+0). When Ramadan ends, the clocks go forward again.
Why Morocco drops DST for Ramadan
The decision is practical and religious. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and iftar (breaking the fast) are tied to the sun's position, not the clock.
By moving to UTC+0, Morocco shifts daylight hours earlier. This means:
- Suhoor happens at a more reasonable local time
- Iftar occurs earlier in the evening
- Work and school days can start and end earlier, which is common practice during Ramadan anyway
The Moroccan government introduced this rule in 2012 and has maintained it ever since. It's a rare case of a country actively adjusting its timekeeping to religious practice, and it catches many travellers off guard.
How the Ramadan clock change works
The mechanics are simple. The timing is harder to track.
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Before Ramadan: Morocco is at UTC+1, same as Central European Summer Time (CEST) during European summer.
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First day of Ramadan: At midnight (or a set time on the eve of Ramadan), clocks go back one hour to UTC+0.
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During Ramadan: Morocco stays at UTC+0 for the entire holy month. No DST, no clock changes.
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End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr): Clocks go forward one hour, back to UTC+1.
The exact dates are announced by the Moroccan government, typically a few days in advance. They're tied to the lunar calendar, which means Ramadan starts about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
Morocco Ramadan time vs European DST
This is where it gets confusing for anyone travelling between Morocco and Europe.
During European summer (roughly late March to late October), Europe is on DST. Morocco is also on DST (UTC+1). So during most of the year, Morocco and Central European Time (CET) countries like France, Spain, and Germany are on the same time.
But during Ramadan, Morocco drops to UTC+0 while Europe stays on DST. This means:
- Morocco vs London: Morocco is on the same time as London (UTC+0) during Ramadan, but one hour ahead of London (UTC+1) during the rest of the year.
- Morocco vs Paris: Morocco is one hour behind Paris during Ramadan, but on the same time as Paris during the rest of the year.
Travellers from Europe often forget this. They arrive in Morocco during Ramadan expecting the same time difference they had last week and find themselves an hour off from everything.
2026 Morocco Ramadan dates and clock changes
For 2026, here's what you need to know:
- Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin around February 18, 2026 and end around March 19, 2026 (exact dates depend on moon sighting).
- Clocks go back from UTC+1 to UTC+0 on the eve of Ramadan (approximately February 17-18, 2026).
- Clocks go forward from UTC+0 to UTC+1 after Eid al-Fitr (approximately March 19-20, 2026).
During this period, Morocco is on the same time as the UK and Ireland (which are on GMT during winter months). After Ramadan ends, Morocco jumps ahead of the UK by one hour again.
Note: These dates are estimates. The Moroccan government confirms exact dates closer to the time, based on astronomical calculations and moon sighting.
Does Western Sahara follow the same Ramadan time change?
Yes. Western Sahara follows Morocco's DST schedule de facto. The territory uses the same time zone (Africa/El_Aaiun) and applies the same Ramadan suspension.
So whether you're in Casablanca, Marrakech, or Laayoune, the time works the same way: UTC+1 most of the year, UTC+0 during Ramadan.
What if you're travelling or doing business during Ramadan?
If you're scheduling calls, booking flights, or planning meetings that cross the Ramadan period, here's what to watch for:
For travellers: - Check the exact dates of Ramadan before booking flights. The clock change happens overnight, so a flight arriving on the first day of Ramadan might land an hour earlier or later than expected. - Prayer times shift with the clock change. If you're using a prayer time app, make sure it updates to the new time zone. - Business hours during Ramadan are often reduced regardless of the time zone. Many businesses open later and close earlier.
For business: - If you work with Moroccan colleagues, confirm which time zone they're on during Ramadan. Don't assume it's the same as last week. - The two-week notice period before the clock change is a common source of missed meetings. Set up calendar invites that automatically update, or double-check times manually. - European companies that work with Morocco often have to adjust their own meeting schedules twice during Ramadan: once at the start, once at the end.