Public Holiday Calendar Guide for Morocco
Morocco's public-holiday calendar combines national commemorations with Islamic religious observances. Civil holidays follow the Gregorian calendar, while religious holidays follow the Hijri calendar and are confirmed through official moon-sighting announcements. For workers, the Labour Code regulates paid holidays, holiday work and compensatory rest, while the national portal provides the official list of national and religious observances.[1][2][3]
How Morocco's Public Holiday System Works
Morocco's Labour Code regulates paid holidays and public holidays for employees. It generally prohibits employers from requiring employees to work on paid holidays and provides rules for compensation when work must continue in establishments whose activity cannot be interrupted.[1]
The country's official calendar includes national occasions such as New Year, the Anniversary of the Independence Manifesto, Amazigh New Year, Labour Day, the Feast of the Throne, the Anniversary of the Recovery of Oued Ed-Dahab, the Revolution of the King and the People, Youth Day, Unity Day, the Anniversary of the Green March and Independence Day. Religious holidays include Eid al-Fitr, the Hijri New Year, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Mawlid Annabawi.[2]
Paid Holidays and Employee Entitlements
The Labour Code provides wage protection when employees do not work because of a paid holiday. Hourly or daily paid employees may receive compensation equivalent to the remuneration they would have earned, subject to the statutory conditions, while employees paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly may not have their regular remuneration reduced because of a paid holiday or qualifying public holiday.[1]
Where the nature of an establishment requires activity to continue, an employee who works on a paid holiday or a public holiday declared paid is generally entitled to additional compensation equal to the remuneration for the work performed. In specified cases, the additional payment can be replaced by paid compensatory rest by agreement between employer and employee.[1]
Islamic Holidays and Moon Sighting
Morocco's principal religious holidays follow the Hijri calendar, so they do not remain on fixed Gregorian dates. The national portal identifies Eid al-Fitr by the beginning of Shawwal, the Hijri New Year by the beginning of Muharram, Eid al-Adha by its place in Dhu al-Hijjah and Eid al-Mawlid Annabawi by its place in Rabi al-Awwal.[2]
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs formally monitors the lunar crescent and announces the beginning of Islamic months. Its announcements record whether the new moon has been sighted and then establish the corresponding religious date. Travellers and employers should therefore rely on the applicable official announcement rather than treating an advance Gregorian estimate as final.[3]
Royal, National and Historical Commemorations
Several Moroccan holidays commemorate the monarchy and major episodes in the country's modern political history. The Feast of the Throne marks the sovereign's accession, while the Revolution of the King and the People commemorates a central episode in the struggle against the colonial authorities. Independence Day and the Anniversary of the Independence Manifesto are separate observances connected with Morocco's independence movement and restoration of sovereignty.[2]
The Anniversary of the Green March and the Anniversary of the Recovery of Oued Ed-Dahab are also included among the national holidays. Unity Day is a more recent addition to the official national calendar. Together, these observances make the public-holiday calendar an important expression of state history as well as a schedule of non-working days.[2]
Amazigh New Year and Cultural Recognition
Amazigh New Year is included in Morocco's official national-holiday calendar. Its presence reflects the constitutional and cultural recognition of Amazigh identity within the Moroccan state and gives the traditional Amazigh calendar a place alongside Gregorian civic holidays and Hijri religious observances.[2]
For calendar users, it is useful to distinguish this holiday from the Hijri New Year. They belong to different calendar traditions and have different cultural meanings even though both are officially recognized occasions.[2]
Working on a Public Holiday
The Labour Code allows certain establishments to continue operating on paid holidays where the nature of their activity requires continuity. Similar treatment can apply to some food retailers and to businesses such as cafés, restaurants, hotels and entertainment establishments under the conditions set by the Code.[1]
Employees who work in these circumstances are entitled to the compensation prescribed by labour law. Workers paid wholly or partly through tips receive paid compensatory rest under the specific provisions applicable to them. These rules make it inaccurate to assume either that every business must close or that holiday work is treated like an ordinary working day.[1]
Planning Travel and Business Around Holidays
For fixed national holidays, the official national calendar provides a reliable basis for advance planning. Religious holidays need more flexibility because their final Gregorian placement depends on Morocco's lunar-calendar determination and official announcement.[2][3]
A public holiday does not by itself establish the opening hours of every bank, shop, restaurant, attraction or transport operator. Travellers should confirm individual operating schedules, especially around Eid celebrations and other major holiday periods, while businesses should check both the official calendar and the Labour Code rules that apply to their workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays in Morocco
How are Islamic holiday dates determined in Morocco?
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs monitors the lunar crescent and issues official announcements establishing the beginning of the relevant Islamic month, so final Gregorian dates should be taken from those announcements.[3]
Which major Islamic holidays are officially recognized in Morocco?
The official national calendar includes Eid al-Fitr, the Hijri New Year, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Mawlid Annabawi among Morocco's religious holidays.[2]
Are employees paid for public holidays in Morocco?
The Labour Code provides wage protection for paid holidays. The precise entitlement depends on the employee's method of remuneration and the statutory conditions, while weekly, fortnightly and monthly remuneration generally cannot be reduced simply because of a qualifying holiday.[1]
What happens if an employee works on a paid holiday?
Where holiday work is permitted because the establishment must continue operating, the Labour Code generally provides additional compensation equal to the remuneration for the work performed. In qualifying cases, employer and employee may agree to substitute paid compensatory rest for that additional payment.[1]
Is Amazigh New Year an official holiday in Morocco?
Yes. Amazigh New Year is included in the official list of Morocco's national holidays. It is distinct from the Hijri New Year, which belongs to the Islamic lunar calendar.[2]
Should visitors assume that all businesses close on public holidays?
No. Labour law permits some establishments to continue operating on holidays, particularly where continuous activity is necessary and in certain hospitality or retail settings. Visitors should check the opening hours of the specific service they intend to use.[1]
Sources
- loi n° 65- Ministère de la Justice du Royaume du Maroc
- National and religious holidays and their meanings- Maroc.ma
- عيد الفطر الجمعة فاتح شوال 1447: 20 مارس 2026م- وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية