Riyadh to Dubai
+1hRiyadh
ASTSOURCEDubai
GSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
AST and GST on the World Map
The map below highlights the AST (Arabia Standard Time) and GST (Gulf Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
AST – Arabia Standard Time
UTC+03:00Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+03:00) is the time zone for Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states of the Arabian peninsula.
- •None of the Gulf states on Arabia Standard Time observe daylight saving.
- •AST is the same offset as Moscow Standard Time and East Africa Time.
- •Riyadh is one hour ahead of Central European Time in winter.
- •The AST abbreviation is shared with Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-04:00).
GST – Gulf Standard Time
UTC+04:00Gulf Standard Time (GST) is used in the UAE, Oman, and other Gulf states, 4 hours ahead of UTC.
- •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.
About Riyadh
WikipediaRiyadh operates on Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3. As OPEC's de facto capital and home to Tadawul, Riyadh time impacts global energy markets.
Riyadh is growing rapidly as part of Saudi Vision 2030 modernization.
About Dubai
WikipediaDubai 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.
Dubai has no income tax, making it a major hub for international business.
Time Conversion Guide: Riyadh to Dubai
Riyadh runs on Arabian Standard Time (AST) at UTC+03:00. Dubai runs on Gulf Standard Time (GST) at UTC+04:00. That puts Riyadh 1 hour ahead of Dubai — a difference of +1h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in Riyadh it is 10:00 AM in Dubai. Midnight in Riyadh is 1:00 AM in Dubai. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
Riyadh to Dubai time conversion table
| Riyadh (AST) | Dubai (GST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 1:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert Riyadh to Dubai time
- Scheduling a call from Riyadh to Dubai: a 10:00 AM start in Riyadh lands at 11:00 AM in Dubai, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both Riyadh and Dubai are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM AST time (10:00 AM–5:00 PM GST). That is roughly 7 hours of usable overlap.
- Booking travel or deliveries: tracking Dubai local time against Riyadh keeps pickup windows and arrival estimates honest across the +1h offset.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM AST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +1h gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–4:00 PM AST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from Riyadh and need Dubai colleagues present.
About AST (Arabia Standard Time)
Arabia Standard Time (AST) is fixed at UTC+03:00 all year across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen. None of these countries observes daylight saving time, so the offset never changes. The abbreviation collides with Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-04:00) used in eastern Canada and the Caribbean; this page covers the Arabian peninsula meaning. Arabia Standard Time is the same offset as Moscow Standard Time and East Africa Time, which makes scheduling with Europe straightforward — Riyadh is one hour ahead of Central European Time in winter and level with it during European summer time.
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.
Best time to call between Riyadh and Dubai
Both Riyadh and Dubai sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–4:00 PM AST, which is 10:00 AM–5:00 PM GST. That gives roughly 7 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
Riyadh and Dubai share 7 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–4:00 PM AST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
Riyadh is 1 hour ahead of Dubai (AST UTC+03:00 → GST UTC+04:00). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–4:00 PM AST. 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:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Riyadh and Dubai?
Riyadh (AST, UTC+03:00) is 1 hour ahead of Dubai (GST, UTC+04:00). The gap is currently +1h.
How do I convert Riyadh time to Dubai time?
Add +1h to Riyadh local time. For example, 9:00 AM in Riyadh is 10:00 AM in Dubai.
What time is it in Dubai right now?
Dubai uses GST at UTC+04:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +1h offset from Riyadh.
What is the best time to call Dubai from Riyadh?
Call between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM AST — that maps to 10:00 AM–5:00 PM GST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, Riyadh or Dubai?
Riyadh is 1 hour ahead of Dubai. When it is 12:00 PM in Riyadh it is 1:00 PM in Dubai.
Do Riyadh and Dubai use different time zones?
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) uses AST at UTC+03:00, while Dubai (UAE) uses GST at UTC+04:00. The IANA identifiers are Asia/Riyadh and Asia/Dubai.
Does daylight saving time affect the Riyadh–Dubai difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +1h offset between Riyadh and Dubai is fixed all year.
Which other cities share Riyadh's time zone?
AST also covers Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Kuwait City, Baghdad.
Which countries use AST, Riyadh's zone?
AST is used in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen.
Is there a day difference between Riyadh and Dubai?
Not normally. The +1h gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.
What is the time difference between Riyadh and Dubai?
Dubai is +1h from Riyadh.
What timezone is Riyadh in?
Riyadh operates on Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3. As OPEC's de facto capital and home to Tadawul, Riyadh time impacts global energy markets.
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 are the business hours in Riyadh?
Standard business hours in Riyadh are 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM AST (Sunday-Thursday).
What are the business hours in Dubai?
Standard business hours in Dubai are 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GST.
What is the best time to schedule a call between Riyadh and Dubai?
The best overlap for a call is when both cities are in business hours. Riyadh works 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM AST (Sunday-Thursday) and Dubai works 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM GST (+1h difference). Try scheduling during the overlapping window for maximum convenience.
What currencies are used in Riyadh and Dubai?
Riyadh uses SAR (﷼) while Dubai uses AED (د.إ). Check current exchange rates when planning travel or business between these cities.
How do Riyadh and Dubai compare in size?
Riyadh has a population of approximately 7.7 million (metro: 7.7 million), while Dubai has approximately 3.5 million (metro: 4.1 million).
What are the major landmarks in Riyadh and Dubai?
Riyadh is known for Kingdom Centre, Masmak Fortress, National Museum. Dubai is famous for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab.
Do Riyadh and Dubai have stock exchanges?
Yes. Riyadh has the Tadawul (Saudi Stock Exchange) and Dubai has the DFM (Dubai Financial Market). The +1h time difference affects trading hour overlaps between these exchanges.
Which countries use AST (Arabia Standard Time)?
AST is used in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen.
Does AST observe daylight saving time?
No, AST does not observe daylight saving time and remains at UTC+03:00 year-round.
What are some interesting facts about AST?
None of the Gulf states on Arabia Standard Time observe daylight saving. AST is the same offset as Moscow Standard Time and East Africa Time.
Which cities are in the GST timezone?
Major cities in the GST timezone include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Baku, Tbilisi.
What is the UTC offset for GST?
Gulf Standard Time (GST) is at UTC+04:00.
What should I know about the GST timezone?
Dubai uses GST year-round with no daylight saving time. GST is 9 hours ahead of EST and 4 hours ahead of GMT.
When is it midnight in Riyadh, what time is it in Dubai?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in Riyadh (AST), it is +1h later in Dubai (GST).
Related Developer Tools
Explore more tools that work great with timezone conversions for international teams:
Related Timezone Conversions
More Riyadh time conversions
- riyadh to saudi arabia
- riyadh to mumbai
- riyadh to delhi
- riyadh to bangalore
- riyadh to kathmandu
- riyadh to bangkok
- riyadh to singapore
- riyadh to hong kong
- riyadh to shanghai
- riyadh to beijing
- riyadh to tokyo
- riyadh to osaka
- riyadh to new york
- riyadh to london
- riyadh to sydney
- riyadh to los angeles
- riyadh to paris
- riyadh to berlin
- riyadh to toronto
- new york to riyadh
- london to riyadh
- dubai to riyadh
- tokyo to riyadh
- singapore to riyadh
- sydney to riyadh
- los angeles to riyadh
- paris to riyadh
- delhi to riyadh
- mumbai to riyadh
- berlin to riyadh
- hong kong to riyadh
- toronto to riyadh
- kathmandu to riyadh
See every conversion from Riyadh →·See every conversion from Dubai →