Trading from Morocco: what is different
The dirham is managed against a basket of the euro and the US dollar, weighted towards the euro, within a fluctuation band. EUR/USD therefore says a lot about how the dirham moves.
Morocco has stayed on UTC+1 all year since 2018, except during Ramadan, when clocks go back to UTC+0 for the month. The session table below uses UTC+1.
Morocco has strict exchange controls, run by the Office des Changes, covering money sent abroad and crypto-assets. Funding here is in USDT, so check carefully what the current rules allow before you open an account.
Forex market hours in Morocco
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Morocco.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 01:00–10:00 | 01:00–10:00 |
| London session | 09:00–18:00 | 08:00–17:00 |
| New York session | 14:00–23:00 | 13:00–22:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 14:00–18:00 | 13:00–17:00 |
| Weekly open | Sunday 23:00 | Sunday 22:00 |
| Weekly close | Friday 23:00 | Friday 22:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Morocco
- EUR/USD — the two currencies behind the dirham's basket.
- XAU/USD (gold) — priced in dollars.
- Germany 40 (DE30) and France 40 (FR40) — European stocks during your working day.
- Brent crude (UKOIL) — Morocco imports almost all its energy.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cent | $10 (balance in USC) | From 1.4 pips | None |
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Moroccan dirham conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Autorité Marocaine du Marché des Capitaux (AMMC). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Morocco.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Morocco allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ramadan change the session times?
Yes. Morocco moves to UTC+0 during Ramadan, so every session starts an hour earlier on your clock for that month.
Can I trade the dirham?
No MAD pairs are offered. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
What is the minimum deposit from Morocco?
The Standard Cent account opens from $10, funded in USDT, with the balance held in US cents ($10 = 1,000 USC). Standard opens from $100, Pro from $1,000 and Raw ECN from $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.