The Maldives time difference is +5 hours from London and +10 hours from New York in winter, and +4 hours and +9 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; the Maldives does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 17:00 in Malé during UK winter time (GMT) and 16:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 22:00 in Malé during Eastern Standard Time and 21:00 during Eastern Daylight Time.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in the Maldives: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+5, IANA identifier
Indian/Maldives - Difference with London: +5 h in UK winter (GMT), +4 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +10 h during Eastern Standard Time, +9 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in the Maldives: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and the Maldives
| Time in London | In Malé (UK winter, GMT) | In Malé (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 12:00 | 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 18:00 | 23:00 | 22:00 |
| 22:00 | 03:00 (next day) | 02:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Malé (US winter, EST) | In Malé (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 18:00 | 17:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 04:00 (next day) | 03:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 08:00 (next day) | 07:00 (next day) |
| Period | Malé vs London | Malé vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +5 h | +9 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +5 h | +10 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +5 h | +9 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +4 h | +9 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +5 h | +9 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +5 h | +10 h |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in the Maldives does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
The Maldives does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+5 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call the Maldives from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Malé time, call between 04:00 and 15:00 London time in UK winter, and between 05:00 and 16:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 23:00 and 10:00 (starting the evening before, local time) during EST, and between 00:00 and 11:00 during EDT.
Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations, and check the times above again around the clock-change dates in the UK and the US.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
In clock terms, going from the UK or the US East Coast to the Maldives means travelling east: your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Maldives time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malé | Indian/Maldives | UTC+5 | UTC+5 | — |
- Malé (
Indian/Maldives): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in the Maldives in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Indian/Maldives: standard time remains UTC+5 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Malé vs London | Malé vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +5 h | +10 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | +5 h | +9 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +4 h | +9 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +5 h | +9 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +5 h | +10 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Malé in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Malé (4.17° N, 73.50° E); the last column converts them to London time, UK clock changes included. They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:18 | 12:15 | 18:12 | 11 h 54 | 01:18 / 13:12 |
| February | 06:20 | 12:20 | 18:20 | 11 h 59 | 01:20 / 13:20 |
| March | 06:12 | 12:15 | 18:18 | 12 h 05 | 01:12 / 13:18 |
| April | 06:00 | 12:06 | 18:12 | 12 h 12 | 02:00 / 14:12 |
| May | 05:53 | 12:02 | 18:12 | 12 h 18 | 01:53 / 14:12 |
| June | 05:56 | 12:06 | 18:17 | 12 h 22 | 01:56 / 14:17 |
| July | 06:02 | 12:12 | 18:22 | 12 h 20 | 02:02 / 14:22 |
| August | 06:03 | 12:11 | 18:18 | 12 h 15 | 02:03 / 14:18 |
| September | 05:57 | 12:01 | 18:06 | 12 h 08 | 01:57 / 14:06 |
| October | 05:51 | 11:52 | 17:53 | 12 h 02 | 01:51 / 13:53 |
| November | 05:53 | 11:50 | 17:48 | 11 h 56 | 00:53 / 12:48 |
| December | 06:04 | 12:01 | 17:57 | 11 h 53 | 01:04 / 12:57 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (12 h 22 between 05:56 and 18:17), the shortest 15 December (11 h 53).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in the Maldives
- Outbound from the UK or the US (flying east): you « lose » 5 hours from London in UK winter and 4 hours in summer, and 10 hours from New York in winter and 9 hours in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK or the US (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 04:00 – 12:00 in Malé from London in UK winter (03:00 – 11:00 during BST), and to 09:00 – 17:00 from New York during EST (08:00 – 16:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Malé, the sun rises around 06:18 and sets around 18:12 in mid-January, and around 06:02 and 18:22 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to the Maldives
- Our complete Maldives travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Maldives: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between the Maldives and the UK or the US?
The Maldives is 5 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 4 hours ahead during British Summer Time. It is 10 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 9 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in the Maldives when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 17:00 in Malé in UK winter and 16:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 22:00 in Malé during EST and 21:00 during EDT.
Does the Maldives have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+5 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call the Maldives from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 04:00 and 15:00 London time in UK winter (05:00 to 16:00 during BST), or between 23:00 and 10:00 New York time during EST (00:00 to 11:00 during EDT). The New York window starts on the previous evening.
What is the IANA time zone for the Maldives?
Malé: Indian/Maldives.
What time does the sun rise in Malé?
Around 06:18 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:02 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:12 and 18:22. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes (BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October): GOV.UK, When do the clocks change?
- US daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November): NIST, Daylight Saving Time
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.