Morocco and France Will Have Different Winter Times for the First Time in Eight Years
Since October 25, the time difference between Paris and Casablanca has been one hour, not two. France turned its clocks back, while Morocco remains on GMT. For Moroccans living abroad, family calls, meetings and travel now require a new sense of timing.
At 8 p.m. in Paris, it is now 7 p.m. in Casablanca. The previous week, it was 6 p.m. The same time difference applies to Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Madrid, which are now one hour ahead of the Kingdom.
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In the night from October 24 to 25, clocks went back in France: at 3 a.m., it was 2 a.m. again, Service-Public reports. Morocco did not change its clocks. It had already turned them back on September 20.
The difference stems from Moroccan Decree No. 2.26.530, signed on June 25 and published on June 29. It repeals the GMT+1 system introduced in 2018, as well as the changes linked to Ramadan. Since September, GMT has been Morocco’s legal time year-round. Until now, the two countries had returned to the same time in winter.
One hour ahead of Paris, the same time as London
An appointment set for 9 a.m. in Brussels now corresponds to 8 a.m. in Rabat, compared with 7 a.m. last week. To call family from France at 9 p.m., it is 8 p.m. in Morocco.
London and Casablanca, meanwhile, show exactly the same time. The United Kingdom returned to GMT on October 25, according to the official UK calendar. The same is true of mainland Portugal and the Canary Islands, while Madrid remains one hour ahead of Tangier.
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Airline and ferry tickets show local departure and arrival times. A plane taking off from Casablanca at 10 a.m. departs when it is 11 a.m. in Paris; the journey time must then be added to calculate its arrival. Connections require the same attention.
This arrangement will last until March 28, 2027. According to the European Union calendar, France will then switch to daylight saving time: Paris will be two hours ahead of Casablanca, and London and Lisbon one hour ahead.
