As pressure mounts in Morocco, here are the countries that ditched daylight saving time

“Despite over six years of daylight saving time (GMT+1), Moroccans are intensifying efforts to abolish it, joining a growing global movement away from the practice.

Here’s a look at the countries that have recently returned to their natural time, abandoning daylight saving practices in favor of a more consistent clock year-round.

In 2016, Azerbaijan abolished daylight saving time following a recommendation from the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, with the Cabinet of Ministers highlighting psychological, and socio-moral issues, and challenges in synchronizing ICT systems.

In 2014, Russia abolished daylight saving time, transitioning to permanent standard time (UTC+3) year-round, following a decision by former President Dmitry Medvedev, who cited a report from the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, which found that the clock changes increased the number of heart attacks by 1.5 times and suicides by 66%.

MPs also argued that “permanent summer time created stress and health problems, especially for people in northern Russia, where the mornings remained darker for longer during the harsh winter months.”

In 2022, Iran abolished daylight saving time (DST), reverting to standard time year-round to conserve energy and reduce costs.

In 2015, Uruguay abolished daylight saving time despite its success in reducing energy consumption and lowering crime rates, with the Uruguayan Chamber of Tourism citing its negative impact on the tourism sector as one of the main reasons for the policy change.

In 2019, Brazil abolished daylight saving time (DST), citing minimal energy savings and potential negative health effects, even though the National Electric System Operator recommended in 2024 reinstating DST to alleviate energy shortages.

China experimented with daylight saving time from 1986 to 1991 to conserve energy, but the practice led to public dissatisfaction and confusion. This prompted the government to ditch DST in 1992 due to the inconvenience it caused.

Mexico abolished daylight saving time nationwide in 2022, ending the practice of changing clocks twice a year. This change was primarily driven by public health considerations, as studies indicated that the time changes were linked to increased rates of heart attacks, especially in the first weeks of implementation.

Mexican President López Obrador cited a government study showing that DST generates savings of about US $50.4 million annually, but said that the damage to health is greater than the importance of … [those] savings.”

In 2016, Egypt abolished daylight saving time after the government concluded that it was ineffective in saving energy or electricity. A report from the Local Administration Committee highlighted that the practice had no practical benefits, negatively impacted air traffic, and disrupted people’s health by reducing sleep hours, leading to a disturbance in the body’s biological clock. But in 2023, The Egyptian Cabinet approved the return of DST.

Proposals to end daylight saving time have been gaining traction in both Europe and the U.S.

Last year, Donald Trump expressed that he and many Republicans are pushing to abolish daylight saving time in the United States, describing “it as inconvenient and very costly, but when asked in March 2025 about the issue , the US president took a step back, s aying it was a 50-50 issue ,” reported the BBC.

Morocco is no exception as it prepares to change its clocks on Sunday, April 6. This shift marks the return to GMT+1, a move that continues to spark widespread debate across the country.

In late 2018, the Moroccan government approved a decree to make daylight saving time permanent changing its clocks based on Ramadan, sparking backlash and student protests in several cities. The move was later upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2019, stating “it fell within the powers of the executive branch.”

Despite the government’s emphasis that the time change is beneficial for energy savings and aligning with international partners, many citizens and civil groups are voicing concerns about the negative impact of daylight saving time.

Social media users have voiced their frustration, with some urging the king to intervene and end the practice.

The Moroccan Civil Youth Coalition said that this practice disrupts daily life and adds unnecessary stress to families, especially children and students. They argue that maintaining DST throughout the year is unfair, and suggest either keeping the legal time year-round or only applying DST in the summer.

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