AST time now |
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10:48:51 Sat, 28 Jun 2025
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| UTC Offset: UTC +3 |
Arabia Standard Time (AST) operates at UTC+3 and is the official time zone used in several countries across the Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Middle East. It is sometimes simply referred to as "Arabian Time". AST remains constant throughout the year as countries in this region do not observe daylight saving time. The time zone aligns with Eastern Africa Time (EAT) in terms of UTC offset, though it is applied in a different regional context.
Importance and Global Use of AST
AST provides a consistent time standard for countries in the Gulf and surrounding areas. The fixed UTC+3 offset simplifies scheduling for government operations, business hours, religious practices, and regional travel, without the complexity of seasonal clock changes.
Globally, AST is significant for international business, especially in the energy sector, finance, and aviation, where precise timing is essential. The region's integration with global markets and its geographic position between Europe and Asia make AST a key reference for cross-border communication, logistics, and broadcasting across multiple time zones.
Where and When AST is used worldwide
Asia
Asian countries using AST all year
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
Other Time Zones in UTC +3
Other time zones share the same offset as Arabia Standard Time (AST), but are known by different names. While their clocks align, they may represent different regions or countries based on local time zone definitions.
- Eastern Africa Time – EAT
- Eastern European Summer Time – EEST
- Israel Daylight Time – IDT
- Moscow Standard Time – MSK
- Syowa Time – SYOT
- Turkey Time – TRT