Current Time in Dubai
United Arab Emirates — Asia/Dubai
About Time in Dubai
Dubai operates on Gulf Standard Time (IANA: Asia/Dubai) at UTC+4 year-round. The United Arab Emirates does not observe daylight saving time. Gulf Standard Time is shared with Oman, and it is sometimes referred to as UAE Standard Time.
Dubai is 9 hours ahead of New York during EST and 8 hours ahead during EDT. It is 4 hours ahead of London during GMT, 3 hours ahead during BST, and 5 hours behind Tokyo. Dubai's UTC+4 timezone positions it between European and Asian markets, making it a strategic location for international business. When Dubai's workday begins at 9:00 AM GST, it is 5:00 AM in London and 1:00 PM in Singapore.
Dubai's timezone and its geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa have made it one of the world's premier connecting hubs. Emirates airline operates its hub at Dubai International Airport on a 24-hour schedule, with banks of flights departing for Europe in the morning (catching European afternoon arrivals) and for Asia in the evening (catching Asian morning arrivals). The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) operates from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM GST, Sunday through Thursday, reflecting the Islamic workweek.
Time Facts
Dubai's workweek runs from Monday to Friday as of 2022 — the UAE shifted from a Saturday-Wednesday workweek to align better with global markets, though Friday is a half-day and the traditional Islamic day of prayer.
During Ramadan, Dubai's working hours are reduced by 2 hours per day by law, and restaurants are closed during daylight fasting hours (typically 4:30 AM to 6:30 PM GST in winter, 3:30 AM to 7:00 PM GST in summer).
Dubai's New Year's Eve fireworks at the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building) are timed to midnight GST (UTC+4) — 4 hours after London and 9 hours before New York, making it one of the earlier major celebrations globally.
Dubai's position at 25.2 N latitude and UTC+4 means it has relatively modest daylight variation — from about 10.5 hours in winter to 13.5 hours in summer — but extreme heat in summer means outdoor activities are concentrated in the cooler morning and evening hours.
Business Hours
Standard business hours in Dubai are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM GST (05:00-14:00 UTC), Monday to Friday, with government offices typically operating from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM.