Does it account for Daylight Saving Time?

Yes, our converter uses the IANA timezone database, which includes all current DST rules for every timezone in the world.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks. All timezones are defined as offsets from UTC.

Can I compare multiple timezones at once?

Yes, you can add multiple cities or timezones and see the equivalent times side by side.

How many timezones are there in the world?

There are 38 distinct UTC offsets in use, ranging from UTC-12 to UTC+14. This includes half-hour (UTC+5:30 India, UTC+9:30 Australia) and 45-minute offsets (UTC+5:45 Nepal, UTC+8:45 Australia).

What is the International Date Line?

The International Date Line (IDL) runs roughly along the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean. When you cross it westward, you gain a day; crossing eastward, you lose a day.

Why do some timezones have 30 or 45 minute offsets?

Countries chose offsets that best matched their solar noon. India uses UTC+5:30 and Nepal uses UTC+5:45 because standard hourly offsets didn't align well with their geography.

Which country has the most timezones?

France has the most (12 timezones) due to overseas territories. Russia spans 11 timezones. The US has 6 (including Hawaii and Alaska).

Dubai to Colombo

+1h 30m

Dubai

GSTSOURCE

UAE · UTC+04:00

HH12

MM00

12:00 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

Colombo

IST

Sri Lanka · UTC+05:30

HH01

MM30

13:30 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

Quick Reference

Time Conversion Table

Dubai

Colombo

12:00 AM

1:30 AM

2:00 AM

3:30 AM

4:00 AM

5:30 AM

6:00 AM

7:30 AM

8:00 AM

9:30 AM

10:00 AM

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

1:30 PM

2:00 PM

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

5:30 PM

6:00 PM

7:30 PM

8:00 PM

9:30 PM

10:00 PM

11:30 PM

Green rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)

GST and IST on the World Map

The map below highlights the GST (Gulf Standard Time) and IST (India Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.

GST Zone

→

IST Zone

Explore all world timezones interactively →

GST – Gulf Standard Time

UTC+04:00

Gulf Standard Time (GST) is used in the UAE, Oman, and other Gulf states, 4 hours ahead of UTC.

Countries in GST

UAEOmanGeorgiaAzerbaijanMauritius

Major Cities in GST

DubaiAbu DhabiMuscatBakuTbilisi

Key Facts about GST

•Dubai uses GST year-round with no daylight saving time.
•GST is 9 hours ahead of EST and 4 hours ahead of GMT.
•The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) operates on GST.

Daylight Saving:No – UTC+04:00 year-round

Learn more about GST on Wikipedia

IST – India Standard Time

UTC+05:30

India Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India and Sri Lanka, 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.

Countries in IST

IndiaSri Lanka

Major Cities in IST

MumbaiDelhiBangaloreKolkataChennaiHyderabadPuneAhmedabadColomboJaipurLucknowSurat

Key Facts about IST

•India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of EST and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
•India uses a single time zone despite spanning 30° of longitude.
•IST is one of only a handful of time zones with a 30-minute offset.
•IST is the most populous single time zone in the world with over 1.4 billion people.
•The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) operate on IST.

Daylight Saving:No – UTC+05:30 year-round

Learn more about IST on Wikipedia

About Dubai

Wikipedia

Dubai operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), 4 hours ahead of GMT. Dubai's position between Europe and Asia makes it a strategic hub for international business.

Population:3.5 million

Metro:4.1 million

Business Hours:8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GST

Currency:AED (د.إ)

Stock Exchange:DFM (Dubai Financial Market)

Key Landmarks

Burj KhalifaPalm JumeirahBurj Al ArabDubai MallDubai Frame

Did You Know?

Dubai has no income tax, making it a major hub for international business.

Learn more about GST timezone →

About Colombo

Wikipedia

Colombo operates on Sri Lanka Time (SLST), UTC+5:30. Sharing India's timezone, Colombo is a key South Asian trade and tourism hub.

Population:752,000

Metro:5.6 million

Business Hours:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM IST

Currency:LKR (Rs)

Stock Exchange:CSE (Colombo Stock Exchange)

Key Landmarks

Galle Face GreenGangaramaya TempleColombo Lotus TowerIndependence SquareDutch Hospital

Did You Know?

Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST) uses UTC+5:30, same offset as India.

Learn more about IST timezone →

Understanding the +1h 30m Gap: Dubai vs Colombo

Dubai runs on Gulf Standard Time (GST) at UTC+04:00. Colombo runs on India Standard Time (IST) at UTC+05:30. That puts Dubai 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Colombo — a difference of +1h 30m at the current offsets.

In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in Dubai it is 10:30 AM in Colombo. Midnight in Dubai is 1:30 AM in Colombo. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.

Dubai to Colombo time conversion table

Dubai (GST)	Colombo (IST)	Day
12:00 AM	1:30 AM	same day
6:00 AM	7:30 AM	same day
7:00 AM	8:30 AM	same day
8:00 AM	9:30 AM	same day
9:00 AM	10:30 AM	same day
12:00 PM	1:30 PM	same day
3:00 PM	4:30 PM	same day
5:00 PM	6:30 PM	same day
6:00 PM	7:30 PM	same day
9:00 PM	10:30 PM	same day

Why people convert Dubai to Colombo time

Scheduling a call from Dubai to Colombo: a 10:00 AM start in Dubai lands at 11:30 AM in Colombo, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
Finding shared working hours: both Dubai and Colombo are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM GST time (10:30 AM–5:00 PM IST). That is roughly 6 hours 30 minutes of usable overlap.
Watching a live event or market open: Dubai viewers need 10:30 AM in Colombo to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 10:30 PM if the event is anchored to Dubai.

Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM GST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +1h 30m gap is not.
Block 9:00 AM–3:30 PM GST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from Dubai and need Colombo colleagues present.

About GST (Gulf Standard Time)

Gulf Standard Time (GST) is the time zone used in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and other Gulf states. GST does not observe daylight saving time. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, major international business and tourism hubs, operate on GST.

About IST (India Standard Time)

India Standard Time (IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka. It is based on the 82.5°E meridian, passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. India uses a single time zone despite spanning roughly 30° of longitude, which has been debated. IST does not observe daylight saving time. India is the world's most populous country, making IST one of the most-used time zones globally. The IT outsourcing industry and call centers operate primarily on IST, making the EST-to-IST conversion one of the most searched timezone conversions.

Best time to call between Dubai and Colombo

Both Dubai and Colombo sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–3:30 PM GST, which is 10:30 AM–5:00 PM IST. That gives roughly 6 hours and 30 minutes of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.

Business hours overlap

Dubai and Colombo share 6 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–3:30 PM GST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.

Dubai is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Colombo (GST UTC+04:00 → IST UTC+05:30). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–3:30 PM GST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.

Learn More About Time

Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:

⏳

History of Timekeeping

From sundials to atomic clocks - 5000 years of measuring time

🌍

How Time Zones Work

UTC, offsets, and why zones don't follow straight lines

☀️

Daylight Saving Time

DST dates, which countries observe it, and the ongoing debate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between Dubai and Colombo?

Dubai (GST, UTC+04:00) is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Colombo (IST, UTC+05:30). The gap is currently +1h 30m.

How do I convert Dubai time to Colombo time?

Add +1h 30m to Dubai local time. For example, 9:00 AM in Dubai is 10:30 AM in Colombo.

What time is it in Colombo right now?

Colombo uses IST at UTC+05:30. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +1h 30m offset from Dubai.

What is the best time to call Colombo from Dubai?

Call between 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM GST — that maps to 10:30 AM–5:00 PM IST and keeps both parties inside the working day.

Which is ahead, Dubai or Colombo?

Dubai is 1 hour 30 minutes ahead of Colombo. When it is 12:00 PM in Dubai it is 1:30 PM in Colombo.

Do Dubai and Colombo use different time zones?

Dubai (UAE) uses GST at UTC+04:00, while Colombo (Sri Lanka) uses IST at UTC+05:30. The IANA identifiers are Asia/Dubai and Asia/Colombo.

Does daylight saving time affect the Dubai–Colombo difference?

Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +1h 30m offset between Dubai and Colombo is fixed all year.

Which other cities share Dubai's time zone?

GST also covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Baku, Tbilisi.

Which countries use GST, Dubai's zone?

GST is used in UAE, Oman, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Mauritius.

Is there a day difference between Dubai and Colombo?

Not normally. The +1h 30m gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.

What is the time difference between Dubai and Colombo?

Colombo is +1h 30m from Dubai.

What timezone is Dubai in?

Dubai operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), 4 hours ahead of GMT. Dubai's position between Europe and Asia makes it a strategic hub for international business.

What timezone is Colombo in?

Colombo operates on Sri Lanka Time (SLST), UTC+5:30. Sharing India's timezone, Colombo is a key South Asian trade and tourism hub.

What are the business hours in Dubai?

Standard business hours in Dubai are 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GST.

What are the business hours in Colombo?

Standard business hours in Colombo are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM IST.

What is the best time to schedule a call between Dubai and Colombo?

The best overlap for a call is when both cities are in business hours. Dubai works 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GST and Colombo works 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM IST (+1h 30m difference). Try scheduling during the overlapping window for maximum convenience.

What currencies are used in Dubai and Colombo?

Dubai uses AED (د.إ) while Colombo uses LKR (Rs). Check current exchange rates when planning travel or business between these cities.

How do Dubai and Colombo compare in size?

Dubai has a population of approximately 3.5 million (metro: 4.1 million), while Colombo has approximately 752,000 (metro: 5.6 million).

What are the major landmarks in Dubai and Colombo?

Dubai is known for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab. Colombo is famous for Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo Lotus Tower.

Do Dubai and Colombo have stock exchanges?

Yes. Dubai has the DFM (Dubai Financial Market) and Colombo has the CSE (Colombo Stock Exchange). The +1h 30m time difference affects trading hour overlaps between these exchanges.