Current time in Dubai
15:00:00GST
Thursday 1 October 2026
Dubai is 3 hours ahead of the UK right now.
In the UK it is 12:00 BST. Your device: 12:00 (Same as UK).
Dubai time zone
Dubai uses Gulf Standard Time (GST), UTC+4. The same time applies across all seven emirates, so Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah always show the same clock as Dubai. Oman is also on UTC+4. The UAE does not use daylight saving time. The IANA zone is Asia/Dubai.
Time difference between the UK and Dubai
Dubai stays on UTC+4 all year, so the gap moves only when the UK clocks change.
| Period | UK on | Dubai is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan to 28 Mar 2026 | GMT | 4 hours ahead |
| 29 Mar to 24 Oct 2026 | BST | 3 hours ahead |
| 25 Oct 2026 to 27 Mar 2027 | GMT | 4 hours ahead |
| 28 Mar to 30 Oct 2027 | BST | 3 hours ahead |
| 31 Oct to 31 Dec 2027 | GMT | 4 hours ahead |
The UAE working week
Since 1 January 2022 the UAE federal government has worked Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday as the weekend. Government hours are 7:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday and 7:30am to noon on Friday. Most private companies moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend too, so the working week now lines up with the UK's, but expect Friday afternoons to be quiet. Sharjah's government works a four-day week, Monday to Thursday.
Best times to call Dubai from the UK
| UK time | Dubai (UK on BST) | Dubai (UK on GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| 09:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 |
| 12:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 |
| 14:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 |
UK mornings line up with the Dubai working afternoon. Many offices in Dubai start early, so a call at 9am Dubai time is 6am in the UK during BST: book calls for your morning rather than theirs. Saturday is a day off for most offices, so a message sent on a UK Friday afternoon may not be read until Monday.
Converting the time
A 2pm meeting in Dubai is 11am in London during British Summer Time and 10am in winter. To convert UK time to Dubai, add 3 hours in summer or 4 in winter. The time zone converter does this for any date, and the meeting planner shows where working hours overlap.
Nearby places
India is 1½ hours ahead of the UAE: see time in India. Pakistan is one hour ahead: see time in Pakistan. Compare other cities on the world clock, read about GMT, or check the next UK clock change.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours ahead of the UK is Dubai?
Dubai is 3 hours ahead of the UK during British Summer Time (late March to late October) and 4 hours ahead for the rest of the year.
Does Dubai change its clocks?
No. The UAE stays on Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4, all year.
Is Abu Dhabi on the same time as Dubai?
Yes. All seven emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, use Gulf Standard Time.
What days are the weekend in Dubai?
Saturday and Sunday. The UAE government moved to a Monday to Friday week on 1 January 2022, with Friday as a half day, and most businesses followed.