What Time is it in Saudi Arabia?

The country of Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East on the Arabian Peninsula. Its capital is Riyadh, and it has a population of more than 31 million people. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in many areas. Depending on what time of year it is, Daylight Saving Time will play a role in determining the exact hour in Saudi Arabia. Keep reading to find out what time it is in this country.

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time, or DST, is observed in Saudi Arabia during the summer months. This means that the standard time in the kingdom is GMT+3, but is adjusted to GMT+4 from May 1st until the end of August. As a result, during this period, the kingdom is four hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and four hours ahead of GMT. Keep in mind that each year, DST begins at the end of May, so the exact dates will change.

Standard Time

When Daylight Saving Time is not in effect, the standard time in the country is GMT+3, which means that it is three hours ahead of UTC and three hours ahead of GMT. This means that when it is 6am UTC or 6am GMT (midnight in the United States), it is 9am in Saudi Arabia.

Conclusion

The time in Saudi Arabia generally follows the same pattern as the Middle Eastern countries that surround it. Depending on whether Daylight Saving Time is in effect, the exact hour will vary. During the standard time, it is three hours ahead of UTC and three hours ahead of GMT. When Daylight Saving Time is in effect, it is four hours ahead.