For most of the 20th century, Morocco (then a French and Spanish protectorate) generally observed Western European Time (UTC+0) or UTC+1, often aligning with neighboring Spain or France depending on the period. After gaining independence in 1956, the country adopted a more permanent framework but frequently adjusted clocks for various reasons, including energy-saving efforts and religious observance during the holy month of Ramadan.

The most dramatic shift came in October 2018, when Morocco’s parliament voted to permanently move forward one hour, effectively making UTC+1 the country’s de facto permanent timezone. This ended decades of switching between UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, a practice that created confusion for media schedules, transport timetables, and international business. The move was also aimed at reducing electricity consumption by better aligning waking hours with daylight.

Did you know?

Things about Morocco's time.

Fact · 01

Morocco’s current system is unusual in Africa: most countries on the continent do not observe DST, while Morocco now effectively lives in permanent "summer time" (UTC+1), only temporarily reverting to UTC+0 during Ramadan. Each year, for about 30–45 days during Ramadan, clocks are turned back to avoid delaying the evening meal (iftar) from falling too late by the clock—a practical and religious accommodation not commonly seen elsewhere in the world.

Fact · 02

As a result, Morocco spends most of the year an hour ahead of neighboring countries like Mauritania (UTC+0), while Algeria to the east is already at UTC+1 year-round. This means that for part of the year (Ramadan), Morocco briefly syncs with UTC+0 countries, then jumps back to UTC+1 afterward—making life interesting for travelers crossing borders and for businesses coordinating across the region.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Morocco's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

Does Morocco observe Daylight Saving Time?: Not in the usual sense. Morocco now stays mostly at UTC+1 year-round, but it temporarily moves back to UTC+0 during Ramadan each year, effectively creating a brief annual time change driven by religious rather than DST rules.
Why does Morocco change its clock during Ramadan?: During Ramadan, fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset. Turning the clocks back by an hour (to UTC+0) shifts "clock time" earlier, so iftar and the breaking of the fast occur earlier by the clock, making daily life more practical during the holy month.
What is the current time zone in Morocco?: Morocco uses Africa/Casablanca, which is now UTC+1 for most of the year. For a short period around Ramadan, it temporarily reverts to UTC+0.
Is Morocco in the same time zone as Spain?: Morocco is often close to Central European Time zones (UTC+1), but its annual shift to UTC+0 during Ramadan means it temporarily differs from Spain’s regular schedule.
How many time zones does Morocco have?: Only one time zone: Africa/Casablanca. Despite spanning a large geographic area, the entire country follows the same official time.
How does Morocco’s time affect business with Europe?: Because Morocco is mostly at UTC+1, it aligns closely with Western and Central Europe for much of the year, simplifying communication. During the Ramadan UTC+0 period, there is a short window when clocks temporarily differ from most of Europe (which is on UTC+1 or UTC+2).
Do Moroccan cities like Marrakech and Casablanca have different time zones?: No. Despite being hundreds of kilometers apart, all Moroccan cities—including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Tangier—follow the same official time.

Free · Developer API

Time, as JSON.

Every IANA time zone with live offsets, DST status, and the countries and cities that use them — clean, dependable JSON. Sign up free and get an API key in seconds.

GET /v1/timezones Live

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// France's time zones, right now

GET /v1/timezones?country=fr

{

"data": [

{

"iana": "Europe/Paris",

"display_name": "Paris",

"current": {

"utc_offset": "+02:00",

"abbreviation": "CEST",

"is_dst": true

}

]

}