Moroccan flags flying in the wind · Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Moroccan flags and palm trees by the ramparts of Marrakech · Photo: Mariel arg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Unity Day

All of Morocco

Unity Day, or Aid Al Wahda, is a national holiday created by King Mohammed VI in November 2025 and celebrated every 31 October, for the first time in 2026. It is a public holiday throughout Morocco and opens the run of national holidays in November.

Dates

31 October 2027

Source: maroc.ma (communiqué du Cabinet royal) — accessed 11 October 2026

A brand-new national holiday

On 4 November 2025, a statement from the Royal Cabinet made 31 October a national holiday, named "Aid Al Wahda", Unity Day. The date marks the adoption, on 31 October 2025, of United Nations Security Council resolution 2797 on Western Sahara. The resolution extends the UN mission there and calls on the parties to negotiate on the basis of the autonomy plan Morocco put forward in 2007; the royal statement calls it a "historic turning point". According to the Royal Cabinet, the name refers to national unity and the kingdom's territorial integrity.

The same statement makes the day an occasion for the King to grant pardons to prisoners.

In January 2026, the Government Council approved the two decrees that make it a public holiday: a day off in government departments and public bodies, and a paid holiday in the private sector.

What it means for a trip

For travellers, Unity Day is first of all a public holiday.

Government offices and public services close. Plan any official paperwork for another day.
The calendar is kind in the first years: 31 October falls on a Saturday in 2026 and a Sunday in 2027, already days off for many people.
Time. Morocco has been on GMT all year round since 20 September 2026. In late October, it is the same time as London.

An autumn of national holidays

31 October opens a run of three national holidays in under three weeks: Unity Day, the anniversary of the Green March on 6 November, and Independence Day on 18 November. In 2027, 6 November is a Saturday and 18 November a Thursday. Sabaro recommends checking these dates before planning paperwork or a business meeting during the trip.

The season suits travel: in Marrakech, the average October high is 28.5 °C, according to the 1991-2020 normals of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In late October and early November, Essaouira usually hosts the Atlantic Andalusias festival, and the Marrakech International Film Festival takes place in November.

Frequently asked questions

Is Unity Day a public holiday in Morocco?

Yes. Since 2026, 31 October has been a day off in government departments and public bodies, and a paid holiday in the private sector.

Why 31 October?

It is the date on which UN Security Council resolution 2797 on Western Sahara was adopted in 2025, which the Royal Cabinet describes as a turning point for the "national cause".

What are the other national holidays in the autumn?

The anniversary of the Green March on 6 November, and Independence Day on 18 November.