October 23, 2026
Lebanon officially enters winter time on the night of Saturday – Sunday, after the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers issued a memorandum reminding us that the clock must be delayed by 60 minutes, starting at midnight on Saturday, October 24, 2026, marking the end of daylight saving time.
According to the memorandum, the clock will be reset at midnight from 12:00 to 11:00 pm on Saturday, so Lebanon will move from summer time (GMT+3) to winter time (GMT+2).
Thus, the Lebanese will gain an extra hour of sleep at dawn on Sunday, October 25, with the official start of the approved winter time in the coming months.
This measure comes in accordance with the system adopted in Lebanon, which stipulates the transition to winter time on the last Sunday of October, with the aim of harmonizing daily activity hours with natural light, as the sun rises and sets earlier according to the official clock, which allows greater benefit from daylight during the morning hours, as opposed to darkness falling earlier in the evening.
The effects of changing the clock are not limited to daily appointments, work, and transportation, but also extend to the human biological clock. As hours of exposure to sunlight decrease during the winter, the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for regulating sleep, is affected, which may increase feelings of sleepiness and fatigue, while decreased exposure to light is also linked to levels of serotonin, which affects mood.
Despite the ongoing global debate regarding the feasibility of changing the clock twice a year, many countries still adopt this system, while other countries have abandoned it, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America, amid ongoing discussions regarding its repercussions on the economy, health, and traffic safety.
In practice, most smartphones and electronic devices adjust their time automatically, provided that the automatic date and time settings are activated and the Beirut time zone is chosen. On the other hand, it is recommended to manually check the hours and devices that do not support automatic updating, to avoid any confusion regarding work, transportation, and flight times.
Winter time will continue until the return to daylight saving time on the last Sunday of March 2027, corresponding to March 28.
Lebanon officially enters winter time on the night of Saturday – Sunday, after the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers issued a memorandum reminding us that the clock must be delayed by 60 minutes, starting at midnight on Saturday, October 24, 2026, marking the end of daylight saving time.
According to the memorandum, the clock will be reset at midnight from 12:00 to 11:00 pm on Saturday, so Lebanon will move from summer time (GMT+3) to winter time (GMT+2).
Thus, the Lebanese will gain an extra hour of sleep at dawn on Sunday, October 25, with the official start of the approved winter time in the coming months.
This measure comes in accordance with the system adopted in Lebanon, which stipulates the transition to winter time on the last Sunday of October, with the aim of harmonizing daily activity hours with natural light, as the sun rises and sets earlier according to the official clock, which allows greater benefit from daylight during the morning hours, as opposed to darkness falling earlier in the evening.
The effects of changing the clock are not limited to daily appointments, work, and transportation, but also extend to the human biological clock. As hours of exposure to sunlight decrease during the winter, the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for regulating sleep, is affected, which may increase feelings of sleepiness and fatigue, while decreased exposure to light is also linked to levels of serotonin, which affects mood.
Despite the ongoing global debate regarding the feasibility of changing the clock twice a year, many countries still adopt this system, while other countries have abandoned it, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America, amid ongoing discussions regarding its repercussions on the economy, health, and traffic safety.
In practice, most smartphones and electronic devices adjust their time automatically, provided that the automatic date and time settings are activated and the Beirut time zone is chosen. On the other hand, it is recommended to manually check the hours and devices that do not support automatic updating, to avoid any confusion regarding work, transportation, and flight times.
Winter time will continue until the return to daylight saving time on the last Sunday of March 2027, corresponding to March 28.
