The long-standing national debate regarding Morocco’s time zone has finally reached a conclusion. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch announced today that the Kingdom will permanently abandon the additional hour (GMT+1) at the end of the upcoming summer, officially reverting to the nation’s legal standard time (GMT). This highly anticipated move directly addresses years of public outcry and citizen demands.
A response to public concerns
In a statement delivered to public television following the Government Council meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Aziz Akhannouch clarified that this resolution was reached after extensive consultations within the government majority. The decision reflects a commitment to listening to the grievances of the population. The head of the executive branch acknowledged that maintaining the advanced hour had become a source of significant daily hardship for a large portion of the Moroccan people, prompting the government to choose a return to normalcy.
“This decision is the result of a thorough assessment of the impacts of the current summer time and fully integrates the various observations and criticisms voiced in the past,” Akhannouch stated during his address.
Ending years of controversy
This announcement effectively closes a chapter of intense social friction. Since the adoption of the extra hour, numerous citizens and civil society organizations have consistently advocated for a return to the original time zone. Advocates for the change argued that the standard GMT alignment is far better suited to the daily rhythms of life, the health of school-aged children, and the overall social equilibrium of the population in Maroc.
The transition, scheduled for the end of the next summer season, marks a definitive shift in the country’s temporal policy, prioritizing social well-being over the previous daylight saving measures.