The price of dates is soaring in Morocco as Ramadan approaches, due to new customs restrictions aimed at protecting local production from dumping. These control measures, coupled with allegations of fraud on the origin of the products, are weighing on the purchasing power of consumers.
For the first time, a divergence on the start of Ramadan 2026 opposes institutions using the same scientific method. According to the authorities, the month of fasting will begin on Wednesday, February 18 or Thursday, February 19.
Morocco is preparing to switch back to standard time on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in the approach to the month of Ramadan expected around February 19. This readjustment aims to harmonize the daily lives of Moroccans with the spiritual and social imperatives of the sacred month.
Some countries have refused to grant visas to Moroccan religious missions for the upcoming month of Ramadan, said the Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, during an oral question session at the House of Representatives. The countries were not mentioned by the ministry.
The Moroccan government has recently decided to more strictly regulate the importation of foreign dates , a measure intended to protect local producers but which is causing great concern in Tunisia.
The religious commission of the Great Mosque of Paris will meet on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6 pm (29 Sha’aban 1447/H) to determine the start date of the month of Ramadan in France .
As the month of Ramadan approaches, the rise in the price of dates on Moroccan stalls is raising many questions among consumers.
The announcement of the restoration of import quotas on Tunisian dates in Morocco marks a sudden halt to trade between the two countries. This decision, taken in the middle of a record harvest season in Tunisia, weakens a sector that has historically been dependent on the Moroccan market to sell its volumes.
Exactly one month before the start of the sacred month of Ramadan , some Moroccans are beginning their usual period of abstinence by stopping the consumption of alcohol and frequenting nightlife establishments. This practice, although devoid of legal or scientific basis, remains a firmly rooted custom in Moroccan society as the fast approaches.
The first day of the month of Chaâbane of the year 1447 of the Hegira corresponds to Wednesday, January 21, announced the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs on Monday. Ramadan begins therefore in exactly one month.
As the sacred month of Ramadan approaches, the indicators are green for the date sector. Despite water stress, Morocco is recording a historic harvest of 160,000 tons this season. An abundance that, according to professionals, should encourage consumers to favor the national product over imports.
When will the month of fasting begin in 2026? While astronomy now allows the calendar to be precisely marked, the year 1447 of the Hijri calendar promises to be unique. While calculations mostly predict a start of Ramadan in mid-February, an unusual divergence has appeared between the partisan instances of scientific calculation.