The UAE time difference is +4 hours from London and +9 hours from New York in winter, and +3 hours and +8 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; the United Arab Emirates does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 16:00 in Dubai during UK winter time (GMT) and 15:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 21:00 in Dubai during Eastern Standard Time and 20:00 during Eastern Daylight Time.
Our travel deals for Time difference
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Time difference.Compare flights- eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in the United Arab Emirates: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+4, IANA identifier
Asia/Dubai - Difference with London: +4 h in UK winter (GMT), +3 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +9 h during Eastern Standard Time, +8 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in the United Arab Emirates: 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 United Arab Emirates
| Time in London | In Dubai (UK winter, GMT) | In Dubai (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 12:00 | 11:00 |
| 12:00 | 16:00 | 15:00 |
| 18:00 | 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 22:00 | 02:00 (next day) | 01:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Dubai (US winter, EST) | In Dubai (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 03:00 (next day) | 02:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 07:00 (next day) | 06:00 (next day) |
| Period | Dubai vs London | Dubai vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +4 h | +8 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +4 h | +9 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +4 h | +8 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +3 h | +8 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +4 h | +8 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +4 h | +9 h |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in the United Arab Emirates does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
The United Arab Emirates does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+4 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 United Arab Emirates from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Dubai time, call between 05:00 and 16:00 London time in UK winter, and between 06:00 and 17:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 00:00 and 11:00 during EST, and between 01:00 and 12:00 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 United Arab Emirates 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.
UAE time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai, Abu Dhabi | Asia/Dubai | UTC+4 | UTC+4 | — |
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi (
Asia/Dubai): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in the United Arab Emirates in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Dubai: standard time remains UTC+4 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 | Dubai vs London | Dubai vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +4 h | +9 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | +4 h | +8 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +3 h | +8 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +4 h | +8 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +4 h | +9 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Abu Dhabi in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Abu Dhabi (24.47° N, 54.37° 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 | 07:08 | 12:32 | 17:55 | 10 h 47 | 03:08 / 13:55 |
| February | 06:56 | 12:37 | 18:17 | 11 h 20 | 02:56 / 14:17 |
| March | 06:32 | 12:32 | 18:31 | 11 h 59 | 02:32 / 14:31 |
| April | 06:01 | 12:23 | 18:44 | 12 h 43 | 03:01 / 15:44 |
| May | 05:39 | 12:19 | 18:59 | 13 h 19 | 02:39 / 15:59 |
| June | 05:34 | 12:23 | 19:12 | 13 h 39 | 02:34 / 16:12 |
| July | 05:43 | 12:29 | 19:14 | 13 h 31 | 02:43 / 16:14 |
| August | 05:57 | 12:27 | 18:57 | 13 h 00 | 02:57 / 15:57 |
| September | 06:09 | 12:18 | 18:27 | 12 h 19 | 03:09 / 15:27 |
| October | 06:20 | 12:08 | 17:57 | 11 h 36 | 03:20 / 14:57 |
| November | 06:38 | 12:07 | 17:36 | 10 h 58 | 02:38 / 13:36 |
| December | 06:59 | 12:17 | 17:36 | 10 h 38 | 02:59 / 13:36 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (13 h 39 between 05:34 and 19:12), the shortest 15 December (10 h 38).
In the other destinations covered by our guides, daylight varies with latitude and position within the time zone:
| Destination | Time zone | Daylight on 15 January 2027 | Daylight on 15 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Asia/Dubai | 07:06 – 17:50 | 05:38 – 19:12 |
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in the United Arab Emirates
- Outbound from the UK or the US (flying east): you « lose » 4 hours from London in UK winter and 3 hours in summer, and 9 hours from New York in winter and 8 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 03:00 – 11:00 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi from London in UK winter (02:00 – 10:00 during BST), and to 08:00 – 16:00 from New York during EST (07:00 – 15:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Abu Dhabi, the sun rises around 07:08 and sets around 17:55 in mid-January, and around 05:43 and 19:14 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 United Arab Emirates
- Our complete UAE travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between the United Arab Emirates and the UK or the US?
The United Arab Emirates is 4 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 3 hours ahead during British Summer Time. It is 9 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 8 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in the United Arab Emirates when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 16:00 in Dubai in UK winter and 15:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 21:00 in Dubai during EST and 20:00 during EDT.
Does the United Arab Emirates have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+4 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call the United Arab Emirates from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 05:00 and 16:00 London time in UK winter (06:00 to 17:00 during BST), or between 00:00 and 11:00 New York time during EST (01:00 to 12:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for the United Arab Emirates?
Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Asia/Dubai.
What time does the sun rise in Abu Dhabi?
Around 07:08 on 15 January 2027 and around 05:43 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 17:55 and 19:14. 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.