Ramadan: Morocco To Switch Back to GMT on March 27

Rabat – With Ramadan around the corner, Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition said that the country will suspend daylight savings time and return to GMT on March 27 at 3 a.m.

Ramadan is expected to begin on April 3 in Morocco. The official starting date of the holy month is yet to be confirmed after the sighting of the  crescent moon.

On a yearly basis, Morocco suspends daylight savings time exclusively for the holy month of Ramadan as it affects the fasting time.

The ministry also announced new working hours for public administration and local authorities during Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam, sees Muslims across the world fast from dawn to sunset.

Fasting people will have to strictly refrain from consuming food, water, gum, or any oral medications. They also have to refrain from engaging in any sexual activity until sunset.

People suffering chronic diseases and taking  prescribed medicines are exempted from fasting.

Children who have not yet reached puberty are also exempted from fasting.

The schedule will cover a daily shift from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Morocco will switch back to GMT +1 on Sunday, May 8 at 2 a.m. a week after Ramadan.

The North African country decided to adopt the daylight saving measure in 2008 during the summer season, with the objective of increasing competitiveness of the national economy through reducing energy consumption and also time difference between the country and its regional and international trading partners.

Under the measure, Morocco switched the clock every summer to DST, GMT+1, and returned to the old standard time, GMT, for a period when Ramadan fell in the summer.

It was until October 2018, when the Moroccan government adopted Draft Decree 2.18.855, adding 60 minutes to the standard time in the country year round.

The decision, however, angered Moroccans, with many portesting the measure, questioning its effectiveness.