Morocco Returns to GMT for Ramadan 2025
Morocco is set to shift back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in observance of Ramadan 2025. Clocks will be turned back one hour at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 23rd, aligning the country with GMT. This temporary change allows for adjusted schedules during the holy month.
This practice of shifting to GMT during Ramadan isn’t new. It’s rooted in Decree No. 2.18.855 issued on October 26, 2018, and Government Head Decision No. 3.17.23 issued on March 6, 2023. These legal frameworks establish the tradition of adjusting the official time by -1 hour during Ramadan. This shift aims to ease the fasting period by effectively shifting sunrise and sunset an hour earlier. Many Muslim-majority countries implement similar time changes during Ramadan, reflecting a widespread practice across the globe.
While the specific reasons for these time changes can vary, they often revolve around minimizing disruption to work schedules while accommodating the demands of fasting, prayer, and other religious observances during Ramadan. For example, some argue that the time change makes it easier for people to wake up for the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and to manage work or school commitments while fasting.
The impact of daylight saving time (DST) and similar time shifts has been a subject of ongoing debate. Studies have explored the effects of these changes on everything from sleep patterns and productivity to energy consumption and traffic accidents. [Link to a relevant study or article about DST impacts]. While the research is nuanced and sometimes contradictory, it highlights the complex interplay between time, our bodies, and societal routines.
Following the conclusion of Ramadan, Morocco will revert to its standard time of Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is GMT+1. This return to WEST is expected to occur after the Eid al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramadan. This cyclical shift between standard time and GMT during Ramadan has become a familiar rhythm for Moroccans, reflecting the country’s commitment to both its cultural traditions and the practicalities of modern life. This practice underscores the interplay between religious observance and the temporal frameworks that shape our daily lives.
