According to astronomical forecasts, Ramadan will last 30 days this year in Morocco. Since observing the lunar crescent will be impossible on March 19, the Eid al-Fitr holiday is expected to be celebrated on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Morocco returns to GMT tonight . At 3 a.m. this Sunday 15 February, it will be 2 a.m. A temporary adjustment to accommodate the Ramadan fast, before the return to daylight saving time scheduled for 22 March.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has launched an international tender for the organization of the pilgrimage of the Moroccan official delegation for the 1447 season, with an estimated budget of 5 million dirhams.
The Moroccan government announced on Tuesday the establishment of a continuous schedule from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in public administrations during the month of Ramadan, the beginning of which is estimated to be on February 19 according to astronomical calculations.
Morocco will return to legal GMT time next Sunday for the duration of the holy month of Ramadan . Clocks will be set back by sixty minutes during the night of February 14–15 to adapt social schedules to fasting.
The Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad (MRE) has announced the dispatch of a delegation of 320 religious figures to provide spiritual guidance during Ramadan to the Moroccan community, a significant portion of which is in France. The mission, composed mainly of academics, will begin on 16 February.
According to the International Astronomy Center, the month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in most Muslim countries. Calculations place Morocco among the areas most favorable for observing the lunar crescent with the naked eye the previous evening.
The French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) unveiled on Monday the official dates for the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1447 of the Hijra. Based on astronomical data, the body set Thursday, February 19 as the first day of fasting, while maintaining the Zakat al-Fitr amount at 9 euros per person.
The sacred month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in the majority of Muslim countries. According to the International Astronomy Center, the sighting of the crescent moon will be scientifically impossible on Tuesday, February 17, as the moon will set before or at the same time as the sun.
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.