Lebanon: Extra hour of sleep starting Sunday in preparation for the switch to winter time

As usual, the Lebanese people are preparing to welcome winter time at the end of October. On the night of Saturday, October 26, 2025, at midnight, the clocks will be set back 60 minutes, so that it will be 1:00 AM instead of 2:00 AM.

This change, known as the “seasonal time change,” comes in implementation of the Lebanese government’s decision to adhere to winter time on the last Sunday of October each year, with the return to summer time on the last Sunday of next March.

The aim of adopting winter time is to achieve harmony between the shortness of the day and daily activities during the winter season, which allows maximizing the use of sunlight in the early morning, and reduces electricity consumption in the evening. This measure is considered beneficial for the education and public transportation sectors, and facilitates the performance of Fajr prayer at early times.

Experts point out that choosing midnight (2:00 AM) to make this change is not arbitrary, but rather aims to prevent any confusion in daily life or in airline and public transportation schedules. As for the return to summer time, it usually takes place on Thursday-Friday night, in order to mitigate the impact of losing an hour of sleep on employees and students.

In contrast, some studies warn that changing the clock may temporarily affect the sleep pattern and mood of some people during the first few days of its implementation. Some may feel tired or have difficulty concentrating in the early mornings. Doctors advise preparing in advance by organizing sleep schedules and exposing oneself to sunlight in the morning, in order to help adjust the body’s biological clock.

Globally, many countries have re-evaluated working with this system. Japan, China, India and Russia have permanently abolished the time change mechanism, while the countries of the European Union still adopt it twice a year: on the last Sunday of March to switch to summer time, and on the last Sunday of October to return to winter time.

With the dawn of Sunday, October 26, the Lebanese will enjoy an extra hour of sleep, marking the official beginning of winter, and winter time will continue until March 27, 2026, which is the date of the return to summer time.