A recent policy analysis by the African Center for Strategic and Digital Studies (CAESD) challenges Morocco's continued use of GMT+1, highlighting limited economic benefits and significant health and social costs. The report calls for an evidence-based review of the policy, emphasizing the need to balance economic interests with public health and safety concerns. DR ‹ › A policy analysis paper published by the African Center for Strategic and Digital Studies (CAESD) concludes that Morocco's permanent adoption of GMT+1 since 2018 has generated limited economic benefits in terms of alignment with Europe, while imposing documented health and social costs and raising questions about its long-term strategic value. Released on February 22, 2026, the paper notes that the policy has not undergone any official public evaluation despite being in place for more than seven years. It calls for an evidence-based review to strike a balance between economic competitiveness and social well-being, amid growing debate over the impact of the additional hour on sleep and public health. Impact on sleep, health, and limited economic gains According to the analysis, living on the western edge of a time zone, as is the case for Morocco under GMT+1, is associated with an average loss of around 19 minutes of sleep per day, along with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Teenagers are said to be particularly affected, with potential sleep loss reaching up to 32 minutes daily, which may negatively impact academic performance. The authors also argue that the GMT+1 policy raises spatial security concerns, particularly for women, girls, and students in rural and marginalized areas. Early commutes before dawn, they note, can heighten feelings of insecurity and exposure to assault or harassment. The issue, they stress, goes beyond commuting costs and touches on broader questions of spatial justice and equal access to education and employment. On road safety, the paper cites international research suggesting that darker mornings linked to permanent daylight saving time can increase traffic fatalities by up to 21.8% in western areas of the same time zone. It calls for a comprehensive national study to assess whether similar trends exist in Morocco. From an economic perspective, the paper acknowledges that GMT+1 provides Morocco with an additional hour of overlap with continental Europe, benefiting sectors such as service outsourcing and export-oriented activities targeting the European market. However, this advantage may be offset by reduced overlap with London and New York during certain periods, potentially limiting efforts to diversify partnerships beyond Europe. The analysis also challenges the assumption that permanent GMT+1 leads to significant energy savings. Drawing on international experiences, it notes that evidence of reduced electricity consumption is inconclusive, with some studies even reporting slight increases in residential energy use. Calls for a return to standard time The paper refers to what it describes as a «global scientific consensus», citing organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which recommend adopting permanent standard time as more aligned with the human biological clock. It argues that the choice of legal time is not merely technical, but a political decision that balances economic priorities with public health and spatial equity. The authors outline three possible scenarios for Morocco: reverting to permanent GMT, maintaining GMT+1 while introducing mitigating measures, or adopting a revised seasonal system that seeks to balance health and economic considerations. They also call for the publication of the 2018 government study that informed the decision to fix legal time at GMT+1, as well as the launch of a broad national consultation. In addition, they recommend commissioning an independent body to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit assessment before any final decision is made. Among the immediate recommendations are winter mitigation measures, such as delaying school and office start times to 9 a.m. during the colder months to offset the effects of darker mornings. The paper further urges authorities to make detailed official data on electricity consumption and traffic accidents available to researchers in order to support a rigorous scientific evaluation of Morocco's time policy. Ultimately, the study argues that the debate over legal time goes beyond adjusting clock hands. It raises a broader question of «time sovereignty», the state's ability to define its time in a way that simultaneously serves its economic interests and safeguards social well-being.
