On April 21, 2026, the Moroccan government reiterated that legal time in the country is governed exclusively by juridical and regulatory dispositions, not by sectoral decisions or isolated measures. This clarification came from Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate responsible for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, during a press briefing in Rabat. Her statement emphasized that changes to official timekeeping are the result of formal legal processes, not administrative announcements from specific industries or government departments.
The minister’s remarks were made in the context of ongoing public discussion about daylight saving time adjustments in Morocco. While no immediate change to the current time zone policy was announced, the reaffirmation served to clarify the legal framework under which any future modifications would be considered. According to verified government communications, any alteration to legal time must follow established regulatory procedures, including ministerial decrees published in the official bulletin.
This position aligns with Morocco’s legal approach to timekeeping, which has historically relied on formal governmental decrees rather than informal or sector-specific directives. The most recent example of such a regulatory measure is Ministerial Decree No. 2022‑114 of March 3, 2022, which governs daylight saving time transitions in the country. Although this decree was issued in 2022, its provisions continue to structure the biannual clock changes observed in Morocco.
Under the terms of Decree 2022‑114, Morocco advances its clocks by one hour at 2:00 a.m. On the last Sunday in March, switching from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to GMT+1, and reverts to GMT at 3:00 a.m. On the last Sunday in October. These transitions are designed to align with European Union daylight saving practices, facilitating coordination in business, transportation, and communications with key international partners.
The decree itself was published in the Official Gazette and remains the authoritative reference for legal time in Morocco unless amended by a subsequent ministerial order. As of April 2026, no such amendment has been enacted, meaning the 2022 decree continues to be in force. Any future modification would require a recent decree following the same legal process, including interministerial consultation and official publication.
Minister El Fallah Seghrouchni’s statement also underscored the importance of regulatory transparency in public administration. By emphasizing that legal time is not subject to arbitrary or sectoral decisions, the government aims to prevent confusion and ensure uniformity across all public services, including transportation schedules, banking operations, and broadcast media.
This approach reflects broader principles of administrative law in Morocco, where changes affecting national standards must be grounded in formal legal instruments. Similar procedures apply to other regulatory domains, such as work hours, public service availability, and official dating of government documents.
For members of the public seeking official information on legal time, the primary source remains the Bulletin Officiel du Royaume du Maroc (BORM), where all ministerial decrees are published. The General Secretariat of the Government also maintains an updated online database of active regulatory texts, including those related to timekeeping.
Internationally, Morocco’s time zone policy is occasionally subject to discussion due to its geographic position west of the Prime Meridian yet alignment with Central European Time during summer months. However, officials have consistently cited economic and logistical coordination with Europe as the primary rationale for maintaining GMT+1 during the warmer months.
As of now, We find no announced plans to alter the current daylight saving schedule beyond the framework established by Decree 2022‑114. The next scheduled transition under the existing rule will occur on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 3:00 a.m., when clocks will be set back one hour to return to GMT.
Until any official update is issued through the proper regulatory channels, the legal time in Morocco will continue to be determined by the provisions of Ministerial Decree No. 2022‑114. Citizens and businesses are advised to consult official government publications for any future changes rather than relying on informal announcements.
For ongoing updates on regulatory notices, including those concerning legal time, the public can refer to the official website of the General Secretariat of the Government of Morocco or subscribe to alerts from the Bulletin Officiel. These channels ensure access to verified, legally binding information as soon as We see published.