Morocco’s government has officially decided to end the permanent use of the GMT+1 time zone, with the country set to revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) after next summer. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch made the announcement on Thursday, June 25, 2026, following a cabinet meeting, marking the end of a long-standing national debate.
In a televised statement, Akhannouch explained that the decision came after extensive consultations within the ruling coalition and a careful consideration of public grievances. He acknowledged that the year-round application of the advanced time had caused significant disruption to many Moroccans’ daily lives, prompting the government to restore the kingdom’s legal time.
“This choice is the result of a thorough evaluation of the current summer time’s impacts and fully considers the comments made in the past,” Akhannouch emphasized.
The announcement brings an end to a prolonged controversy. Since the adoption of the extra hour, numerous citizens and civil society groups had been demanding a return to the original time zone, arguing it better aligns with daily routines, schoolchildren’s health, and social balance.
