Time zone
EAT
El Aaiun Time
El Aaiun Time (EAT) is the defined timezone for Western Sahara, centered on the city of El Aaiun. Although nominally aligned with UTC+00:00, the region currently observes daylight saving time, shifting clocks forward to UTC+01:00 during summer months—a practice that can make coordination with neighboring regions feel a bit like chasing the sun across the calendar.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Current offset
UTC+01:00
Daylight · +01
Daylight saving
Active
Reverts 7 Feb 2027
IANA zones
0
None observe daylight saving
DST offset
—
No summer variant
About EAT
A fixed, year-round offset.
El Aaiun Time (EAT) is the defined timezone for Western Sahara, centered on the city of El Aaiun. Although nominally aligned with UTC+00:00, the region currently observes daylight saving time, shifting clocks forward to UTC+01:00 during summer months—a practice that can make coordination with neighboring regions feel a bit like chasing the sun across the calendar.
Same offset · UTC+01:00
Other zones at UTC+01:00 right now.
These named zones share EAT's offset today. When daylight saving rules differ, they drift apart for part of the year.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about EAT, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- Why does El Aaiun Time use UTC+01:00 instead of its standard UTC+00:00?
- Western Sahara observes daylight saving time, advancing clocks by one hour in summer to extend evening daylight. This shifts the effective offset from UTC+00:00 to UTC+01:00 during DST periods.
- When does El Aaiun switch back to standard time?
- The next transition out of daylight saving time is scheduled for 2027-02-07 at 02:00 local time, when clocks will fall back to UTC+00:00.
- Is El Aaiun Time the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?
- Only during standard time (UTC+00:00). During DST, it becomes equivalent to West Africa Time (WAT), which is UTC+01:00—so it’s GMT in winter and WAT in summer.
- How many time zones use El Aaiun Time?
- Just one: Africa/El_Aaiun, representing the entire Western Sahara region under this timezone code.
- Does all of Western Sahara follow the same time?
- Yes—despite political complexities, the entire region officially uses Africa/El_Aaiun with consistent DST observance.
- What’s unique about El Aaiun’s DST schedule?
- Unlike many regions that start DST in spring, El Aaiun begins its DST period around late March (e.g., 2026-03-22) and ends in early February—flipping the typical Northern Hemisphere pattern.
- How does El Aaiun Time affect travel or communication?
- Because it shifts between UTC+00:00 and UTC+01:00, travelers and remote collaborators should double-check dates—especially around March and February—to avoid missed calls or flights.
- Is El Aaiun Time ever the same as Casablanca Time?
- Yes! Both Morocco and Western Sahara often align on UTC+01:00 during their overlapping DST periods, making them temporarily synchronized despite different official names.
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