How to Call Morocco from USA

Quick Answer

To call Morocco from the United States:

• Landline: 011 + 212 + 5XX + XXX XXX (drop leading 0 from the national number which starts 05XX XXX XXX)
• Mobile: 011 + 212 + (6XX or 7XX) + XXX XXX (drop leading 0 from the national number which starts 06XX XXX XXX or 07XX XXX XXX)

Examples:

• For a Casablanca landline (e.g., number starts 522 after +212): 011 + 212 + 522 + XXX XXX
• For a Moroccan mobile phone (e.g., Maroc Telecom 661): 011 + 212 + 661 + XXX XXX

Morocco is generally on UTC+1. This means Morocco is 5 or 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET), depending on US Daylight Saving Time and any temporary changes in Morocco (e.g., during Ramadan).

Understanding Moroccan Phone Numbers

Moroccan phone numbers are structured with the country code +212. When dialing from abroad, the leading 0 of the national number is dropped. The number following +212 is always 9 digits long.

Landline Numbers (Fixed Lines)

• Format from US: 011 + 212 + 5XX XXX XXX
• The 5XX part indicates the region or city.

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 212 + (6XX or 7XX) XXX XXX
• The 6XX or 7XX part indicates the mobile operator and series.

Moroccan Regional Prefixes (Fixed Lines)

For fixed lines, after dialing 011 + 212, the next three digits (starting with 5) indicate the region. Here are some major ones:

Moroccan Mobile Phone Prefixes

For mobile numbers, after dialing 011 + 212, the next three digits (starting with 6 or 7) indicate the mobile operator and series.

*Number portability is active in Morocco, so a prefix may not always indicate the original operator. The 9-digit number after +212 is the key.

Time Difference

Morocco primarily observes Western European Time (WET), which is UTC+1. Morocco has a unique approach to Daylight Saving Time (DST); while it largely remains on UTC+1 year-round, it sometimes reverts to UTC+0 (GMT) for short periods, often during Ramadan. It's advisable to check the current local time before calling if precision is critical.

Assuming Morocco is on UTC+1, the time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET) is:

• During US Standard Time (EST, UTC-5): Morocco is 6 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 6 PM in Morocco).
• During US Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4): Morocco is 5 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 5 PM in Morocco).

Morocco's Phone System

Morocco has a relatively well-developed telecommunications sector. Mobile phone penetration is high, with three major operators: IAM (Maroc Telecom), Orange, and Inwi. 3G and 4G services are widely available, especially in urban areas. Fixed-line (landline) services are also available, primarily through IAM. Internet access is widespread, with ADSL and fiber optic options growing in cities.

Best Times to Call

Considering the time difference (Morocco is 5-6 hours ahead of US ET):

• A good window for business calls from the US is typically morning ET (e.g., 9 AM - 11 AM ET), which corresponds to mid-afternoon in Morocco (2 PM - 5 PM, depending on DST).
• Moroccan business hours are generally Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM/9:00 AM to 6:00 PM/6:30 PM, often with a longer lunch break. Friday afternoons may have reduced hours.