Microsoft has learned of a possible change in the observance of daylight saving time in Iraq that could affect customers who use the “(GMT +03:00) Baghdad” time zone. (This is also known as the Arabic time zone.) We have unofficial reports that the Ministry of Iraq has decided that the country will no longer observe daylight saving time. Daylight saving time has historically taken effect in Iraq on April 1 and has continued through October 1. Currently, it seems that this change is likely. However, this information could be reversed at any time.

On April 1, 2008, Windows-based computers that are configured to use the “(GMT +03:00) Baghdad” time zone will automatically transition to daylight saving time despite the expected change in Iraq’s daylight saving time policy. However, the hotfix that is described in the “More information” section updates the “(GMT +03:00) Baghdad” time zone in compliance with this expected policy change, beginning April 1, 2008.

For more information about time zone changes in Windows, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

942763 December 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems