Right now, you're probably looking at your watch or phone and wondering why the clock in Casablanca doesn't seem to match what you expected. It happens to everyone. Honestly, what is time now in Morocco is a question that even locals have to double-check a few times a year.
As of January 16, 2026, Morocco is currently operating on UTC+1.
This means if it’s noon in London (GMT/UTC), it’s 1:00 PM in Marrakesh. But don't get too comfortable with that math. In just about a month, everything is going to shift. Morocco has a very specific, somewhat chaotic relationship with the clock that involves switching back and forth not just for seasons, but for the holy month of Ramadan.
The 2026 Time Shift: Mark Your Calendar
If you are planning a trip soon, you need to know about the "Ramadan Reset." Unlike most countries that change clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST) once in the spring and once in the fall, Morocco does a four-step dance.
Here is the breakdown for 2026:
- Current Status: UTC+1 (West Africa Time/Central European Time).
- February 15, 2026: Clocks will "fall back" one hour to UTC+0 at 3:00 AM.
- Why? This is to prepare for Ramadan, which is expected to begin around February 18. The government moves the time back to make the evening fast-breaking (iftar) happen an hour "earlier" on the clock, making the long days of fasting feel a bit more manageable.
- March 22, 2026: Once Ramadan and the Eid celebrations conclude, the clocks will "spring forward" again to UTC+1 at 2:00 AM.
Basically, for about five weeks between February and March, Morocco will be perfectly synced with London. Then, it jumps back ahead.
Why Does Morocco Keep Changing Its Mind?
It’s a bit of a saga. Back in 2018, the Moroccan government made a surprise, last-minute decision to stay on UTC+1 permanently. They scrapped the old "spring forward, fall back" routine used by Europe. The idea was to save energy and keep business hours more in line with the European Union, Morocco’s biggest trading partner.
But there was a catch.
Fasting during Ramadan while on "Summer Time" (UTC+1) means the sun doesn't set until very late in the evening. When you haven't had a drop of water or a bite of food since 5:00 AM, waiting until 8:00 PM for dinner is brutal. To fix this, the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform implements a temporary suspension of DST every year.
So, while the country is "permanently" on UTC+1, they take a month-long break from it every year. It’s a uniquely Moroccan solution to a very modern problem.
How This Actually Affects Your Trip
If you're just looking for what is time now in Morocco to call a friend, the UTC+1 rule is your safe bet for most of the year. But if you’re traveling there during the February-March window, the "Ramadan Time" change affects more than just your watch.
- Flights and Trains: Most airlines (like Royal Air Maroc) and the ONCF train network automatically update their schedules. However, "automatic" doesn't always mean "flawless." Always double-check your boarding pass.
- Business Hours: During that UTC+0 period in Ramadan, the entire rhythm of the country shifts. Banks and government offices usually adopt "continuous hours," often opening around 9:00 AM and closing by 3:00 PM so staff can go home to prepare for the fast-break.
- The Sunset Rush: About 30 minutes before sunset, the streets of cities like Fes or Rabat will go from chaotic to ghost towns. Everyone is inside waiting for the adhan (call to prayer). If you’re out at this time, you won’t find a taxi, and you certainly won’t find an open shop.
Pro Tips for Staying Synchronized
Don't rely solely on your phone’s "Automatic Time Zone" feature. While most modern operating systems handle the Moroccan Ramadan shift better than they used to, they still fail occasionally because the dates of Ramadan change every year based on the lunar calendar.
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Kinda annoying, right?
The best way to be sure is to check a local news site like Hespress or Morocco World News the day before you travel. Or, honestly, just ask a waiter at a cafe. They’ll know exactly how many minutes are left until the next prayer, which is the "real" clock everyone follows anyway.
If you’re landing in Casablanca or Marrakesh during the transition weeks, manually set your phone to "Casablanca" time rather than relying on the GPS offset. This forces the device to look up the specific Moroccan decree for that year.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your travel dates against the February 15 – March 22, 2026 window.
- If you are flying during those dates, log into your airline's app to confirm your departure time hasn't shifted by an hour.
- Note that during the UTC+0 period, sunset will occur around 6:15 PM – 6:45 PM, which is when most restaurants will be closed for the initial iftar meal.