Offset
The time difference between Arabia Standard Time and Central European Time is 1 hour.
Arabia Standard Time (AST) is ahead of Central European Time (CEST).
AST: UTC+3
CEST: UTC+2
Central European Time is currently observing daylight saving time; Arabia Standard Time is not.
When to schedule
Business-hours overlap: 10 AM–5 PM in Arabia Standard Time (9 AM–4 PM in Central European Time).
Both teams are in working hours during this window on weekdays.
Suggested time: 1:00 PM Arabia Standard Time (12:00 PM Central European Time).
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Note: the working week in Saudi Arabia runs Sunday–Thursday; Friday–Saturday is the weekend, so overlap on those days is limited.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
France
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Easter MondayMon, Apr 6
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Victory in Europe DayFri, May 8
- Ascension DayThu, May 14
- Whit MondayMon, May 25
- Bastille DayTue, Jul 14
- Assumption DaySat, Aug 15
- All Saints' DaySun, Nov 1
- Armistice DayWed, Nov 11
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Arabia Standard Time is also known as AST. To call Saudi Arabia, dial +966.
Central European Time is also known as CET, or CEST. To call France, dial +33.
Central European Time is approximately 2,900 miles northwest of Arabia Standard Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| AST | CET | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 am | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 am | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 am | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 6:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 7:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 8:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 9:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 10:00 pm | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Central European Time observes daylight saving time; Arabia Standard Time does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Central European Time transitions: on Sunday, October 25, 2026, clocks fall back from CEST to CET.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:05 AM
- Sunset
- 6:41 PM
- Day length
- 13h 36m
- Sunrise
- 5:50 AM
- Sunset
- 9:50 PM
- Day length
- 15h 59m
Daylight overlap: 11h 50m — 6:50 AM–6:41 PM in Arabia Standard Time (5:50 AM–5:41 PM in Central European Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Cities in Central European Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Arabia Standard Time
- JED
- RUH
- MED
- DMM
Airports in Central European Time
- CDG
- LBG
- ORY
- MRS
- GNB
- LYS
- NCE
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am AST in CET?
- 9:00 am AST is 8:00 am CET.
- What is 12:00 pm AST in CET?
- 12:00 pm AST is 11:00 am CET.
- What is 12:30 pm AST in CET?
- 12:30 pm AST is 11:30 am CET.
- What is 2:00 pm AST in CET?
- 2:00 pm AST is 1:00 pm CET.
- What is 5:00 pm AST in CET?
- 5:00 pm AST is 4:00 pm CET.
- What is 11:30 pm AST in CET?
- 11:30 pm AST is 10:30 pm CET.