Saudi Arabia flagCurrent Time in Saudi Arabia

Check local time in Riyadh and all Saudi Arabia cities. Saudi Arabia uses AST (UTC+3).

Saudi Arabia Quick Facts

🏛️ Capital City
Riyadh
👥 Population
35M
💰 Currency
ر.س Saudi Riyal
📞 Phone Code
+966
🗣️ Official Languages
Arabic

🕐Time Zones in Saudi Arabia

AST (UTC+3)

Saudi Arabia uses AST (UTC+3) year-round. Riyadh is the capital and largest city.

Saudi Arabia does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). This means the time difference with countries that do observe DST (such as the US, UK, and most of Europe) will change twice a year when those countries adjust their clocks.

Major Cities in Saudi Arabia (4 cities)

Riyadh
Riyadh
10:20
Jeddah
Riyadh
10:20
Dammam
Riyadh
10:20
Medina
Riyadh
10:20

Click on any city to see detailed local time, sunrise/sunset times, and weather information.

📞Best Time to Call Saudi Arabia

Calling Saudi Arabia from the US requires careful planning due to the significant time difference. If you're on the East Coast (EST), try calling between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which will be morning time in Saudi Arabia. West Coast callers (PST) can call between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. For UK callers, early morning calls work best.

Standard business hours in Saudi Arabia are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Standard business hours in Saudi Arabia are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.

✈️Time-Related Travel Tips for Saudi Arabia

When traveling to Saudi Arabia, expect significant jet lag if coming from Europe or the Americas. Allow 1-2 days to adjust to the time difference. Most Saudi Arabia hotels will have alarm clocks, but setting your phone to local time immediately upon arrival helps. The primary language is Arabic. Business meetings often start punctually, so account for traffic when planning.

💡Interesting Facts About Time in Saudi Arabia

  • Despite its size, Saudi Arabia uses only one time zone, simplifying scheduling across the entire country.
  • The capital Riyadh is the political center of Saudi Arabia with a total national population of 35M.
  • Many Asian countries, including Saudi Arabia, historically based their time zones on Beijing or Tokyo time during different periods.
  • Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines - they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
  • The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.

About Time in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia uses a single time zone (AST (UTC+3)). This makes it relatively straightforward to coordinate times across the country.

The capital city Riyadh serves as the political and often economic center of Saudi Arabia. Major business activities are spread across cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam.

When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Saudi Arabia, it's important to consider the time difference. AST (UTC+3) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal (ر.س) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +966. Multiple languages are spoken, including Arabic.

Cities in Saudi Arabia

Explore local time in 4 cities across Saudi Arabia:

RiyadhJeddahDammamMedina

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Frequently Asked Questions About Time in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia uses AST (UTC+3). The capital Riyadh uses AST (UTC+3).

Saudi Arabia does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). This means the time difference with countries that do observe DST (such as the US, UK, and most of Europe) will change twice a year when those countries adjust their clocks.

Calling Saudi Arabia from the US requires careful planning due to the significant time difference. If you're on the East Coast (EST), try calling between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which will be morning time in Saudi Arabia. West Coast callers (PST) can call between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. For UK callers, early morning calls work best.

Standard business hours in Saudi Arabia are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.

Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal (ر.س) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +966. Official languages include Arabic.