Before you go
What time zone is Marrakech in?
- Standard
- GMT+1 year-round
- Ramadan
- Shifts to GMT+0
- vs UK summer
- Same time
- vs UK winter
- 1 hour ahead
Quick answer
Marrakech runs on GMT+1 all year (Morocco scrapped seasonal clock changes in 2018), except during Ramadan, when clocks move back to GMT+0 for the month. In practice that means it's usually the same time as the UK in summer and one hour ahead in winter — but always double-check around Ramadan.
How Morocco's clocks work
Since 2018 Morocco has stayed on permanent GMT+1 (it calls it 'legal time') rather than switching clocks twice a year. The one twist is Ramadan: for that month the country temporarily reverts to GMT+0 to ease the daily fast, then springs forward to GMT+1 again afterwards. Because Ramadan moves earlier each year on the Western calendar, the exact dates of that shift change annually.
Working out the difference
For UK travellers, the easy rule is: in British summer (when the UK is on BST/GMT+1) Marrakech is the same time; in UK winter (GMT) Marrakech is one hour ahead. Relative to Central Europe, Marrakech matches CET in winter and is an hour behind in summer; it's typically 4–5 hours ahead of US Eastern time. During Ramadan, subtract an hour from Morocco's usual time. Your phone will update automatically, but it's worth knowing for booking flights and calls home. Plan your days with our itineraries.
Related questions
Does Morocco change its clocks for daylight saving?
No — Morocco abolished seasonal clock changes in 2018 and stays on GMT+1 permanently. The only exception is Ramadan, when clocks temporarily move back to GMT+0 for the month before returning to GMT+1.
What is the time difference between Marrakech and the UK?
In British summer time the UK and Marrakech are the same; in UK winter, Marrakech is one hour ahead. During Ramadan, when Morocco drops to GMT+0, the gap narrows by an hour — so check the dates if you travel then.
Why does Marrakech time change during Ramadan?
Morocco temporarily reverts from GMT+1 to GMT+0 during Ramadan to make the daylight fasting hours more manageable, effectively giving an extra hour of evening. After Ramadan, clocks return to the standard GMT+1.