1. Where does Unity Day come from? Origin and legal framework
On November 4, 2025, a Royal Cabinet statement announced that King Mohammed VI had decreed October 31 of each year a national holiday, under the name "Unity Day" (Aid Al Wahda). The date is no accident: it is the day the UN Security Council adopted, on October 31, 2025, resolution 2797, which enshrines Morocco's autonomy plan as the basis for negotiations on the Sahara.
The symbolism is twofold: resolution 2797 came just days before the 50th anniversary of the Green March of November 6, 1975. The new holiday becomes the official framework for expressing the Kingdom's territorial unity, while the Green March anniversary keeps its public-holiday status on November 6 — both dates coexist on the calendar. The royal statement also specifies that the day will be marked by a royal pardon, in keeping with the tradition of major national celebrations, and reorganizes royal speeches: they are now delivered on two official occasions, Throne Day and the opening of Parliament (no more address to the nation on November 6, whose festivities are maintained).
Legally, the royal decision was implemented through two application decrees, adopted by the Government Council in mid-January 2026 and then published in the Official Bulletin. Since then, October 31 has featured on the regulatory list of paid public holidays, on a par with Throne Day or Eid al-Fitr.
The two implementing decrees
Decree No. 2.25.1140: supplements decree No. 2.77.169 of February 28, 1977 setting the list of days off in public administrations. Decree No. 2.26.14: supplements decree No. 2.04.426 of December 29, 2004 setting the list of paid holidays in agricultural and non-agricultural activities (private sector). First application: Saturday, October 31, 2026.
2. A "paid day off": what the labour code says
October 31 now falls under the paid-holidays regime of the labour code (law 65-99, articles 217 and following): a general prohibition on having employees work that day, full pay maintained, and enhanced compensation for those who do work.
| Your situation on October 31 | What applies |
|---|---|
| Monthly-paid employee, day off | No deduction from the month's salary: the holiday is paid as a worked day |
| Employee paid by the day or hour | An allowance equal to the pay they would have earned had they worked |
| Employee working that day | The day's pay + an additional allowance equal to that pay (double pay), replaceable by mutually agreed paid compensatory rest |
| Civil servant or public employee | Paid day off (decree No. 2.77.169 as supplemented by No. 2.25.1140) |
| Establishment that must operate continuously | Work remains possible that day, with the compensation above (double pay or compensatory rest) |
Source: Wafir.ma — August 19, 2026
The principle is prohibition: article 217 of the labour code forbids employing workers on paid holidays and public holidays. Exceptions cover establishments whose operation cannot be interrupted (hospitals, hotels, security, continuous-process industries...) and certain activities listed by regulation. In all cases, an employee who works on a paid public holiday must receive, on top of the pay for the work performed, an additional allowance equal to that pay — that is, double remuneration for the day. Employer and employee may agree to replace this allowance with paid compensatory rest.
A good payslip reflex: if you worked an October 31, check the following month that a premium line (or a scheduled compensatory rest day) appears. In case of dispute, the labour inspectorate has jurisdiction.
Holiday falling on a Saturday or Sunday: no carry-over
Moroccan regulations provide no substitute day when a public holiday coincides with the weekly rest. Unity Day's first two editions — Saturday, October 31, 2026 and Sunday, October 31, 2027 — will therefore bring no extra day off to most standard-week employees.
3. What day does Unity Day fall on? The 2026-2030 editions
As a fixed-date holiday, Unity Day follows the Gregorian calendar: its practical value for employees therefore changes every year with the day of the week.
| Edition | Day of the week | Impact for a standard-week employee |
|---|---|---|
| October 31, 2026 (1st edition) | Saturday | Blends into the weekend: no day off gained |
| October 31, 2027 | Sunday | Same: no gain, no substitute day provided |
| October 31, 2028 | Tuesday | First genuine weekday off; possible bridge by taking Monday, October 30 (4 days of rest) |
| October 31, 2029 | Wednesday | Midweek day off; 5-day bridge with 2 days of leave |
| October 31, 2030 | Thursday | 4-day weekend by taking Friday, November 1 off |
Source: Wafir.ma — August 19, 2026
Bottom line: employees will only truly "benefit" from the new holiday from 2028 onwards. For the civil service and schools, however, October 31 is off whatever the weekday — and the day keeps its official dimension (celebrations, royal pardon) from 2026.
The holiday's first-ever bridge: October 2028
October 31, 2028 falls on a Tuesday: by taking a single day of leave (Monday, October 30), you chain 4 consecutive days of rest, from Saturday 28 to Tuesday 31 October. And the Green March anniversary (Monday, November 6, 2028) delivers a 3-day weekend right after.
4. The wafir.ma angle: banks, transfers and due dates around October 31
Like any official public holiday, Unity Day closes the counters: banks, administrations, tax offices and courts. Since late October is a busy stretch for household finances, it pays to schedule operations ahead.
- Bank branches closed on October 31 — in 2026 and 2027 the effect blends into the weekend; from 2028 (a Tuesday), count one genuine business day lost
- Transfers and direct debits: interbank operations are not processed on non-business days — a transfer ordered just before the holiday is credited the next business day; anticipate salaries, rent and large transfers by 24 to 48 hours
- Loan installments: a debit falling on a public holiday or weekend is generally shifted to the next business day without penalty — just make sure the account is funded on the original date
- A broken week in early November: after October 31 comes the Green March anniversary on November 6 (a Friday in 2026, an automatic 3-day weekend) — in 2026, concentrate banking and administrative errands between Monday, November 2 and Thursday, November 5
- Housing tax / municipal services tax: assessment notices issued by tax roll arrive at varying dates depending on the municipality, each payable within the deadline printed on the notice; beyond it, a 10% penalty applies, plus a 5% surcharge for the first month and 0.5% per additional month of delay — online payment (DGI portal, e-banking, banking apps) remains available even on a public holiday
One last budget note: Morocco's final quarter now strings together Unity Day (October 31), the Green March (November 6), Independence Day (November 18) and end-of-year expenses. If a cash-flow peak looms, the priority order is the same as for every celebration: available savings first, fee-free installment payment next, and a compared consumer loan as a last resort — with total monthly installments always below 33% of the household's net income.
5. FAQ
Q.Is October 31 a public holiday in Morocco?
Q.Why did October 31 become a holiday in Morocco?
Q.Is Unity Day paid in the private sector?
Q.I work on October 31: am I entitled to a premium?
Q.October 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday: is there a substitute day off?
Q.Are banks open on October 31 in Morocco?
Q.Is November 6 (Green March) still a holiday in Morocco?
Q.What day is Unity Day in 2027 and 2028?
Q.What is UN Security Council resolution 2797?
Q.How many public holidays does Morocco have with Unity Day?
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