Offset
The time difference between Central Time and Gulf Standard Time is 9 hours.
Central Time (CDT) is behind Gulf Standard Time (GST).
CDT: UTC-5
GST: UTC+4
Central Time is currently observing daylight saving time; Gulf Standard Time is not.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in Central Time and Gulf Standard Time don't overlap on the same weekday. Gulf Standard Time is 9 hours ahead of Central Time.
With some flexibility, there’s a workable window outside standard hours:
- 7 AM–11 AM in Central Time (4 PM–8 PM in Gulf Standard Time) — suggest 9:00 AM Central Time (6:00 PM Gulf Standard Time).
This means an early start or late finish for one side, but it’s a reasonable slot for a one-off meeting.
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
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.
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Central Time is also known as CST, or CDT. To call United States, dial +1.
Gulf Standard Time is also known as GST. To call United Arab Emirates, dial +971.
Gulf Standard Time is approximately 7,250 miles northeast of Central Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| CST | GST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 am | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 am | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 am | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 4:00 am | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 5:00 am | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 6:00 am | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 5:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 6:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 7:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 8:00 pm | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 9:00 pm | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 10:00 pm | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 11:00 pm | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 12:00 am | +1 day |
| 4:00 pm | 1:00 am | +1 day |
| 5:00 pm | 2:00 am | +1 day |
| 6:00 pm | 3:00 am | +1 day |
| 7:00 pm | 4:00 am | +1 day |
| 8:00 pm | 5:00 am | +1 day |
| 9:00 pm | 6:00 am | +1 day |
| 10:00 pm | 7:00 am | +1 day |
| 11:00 pm | 8:00 am | +1 day |
Daylight saving time
Central Time observes daylight saving time; Gulf Standard Time does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Central Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from CDT to CST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:18 AM
- Sunset
- 8:22 PM
- Day length
- 15h 4m
- Sunrise
- 5:29 AM
- Sunset
- 7:07 PM
- Day length
- 13h 38m
Cities in these zones
Cities in Central Time
Cities in Gulf Standard Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Airports in Gulf Standard Time
- DWC
- DXB
- SHJ
- AUH
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am CST in GST?
- 9:00 am CST is 6:00 pm GST.
- What is 12:00 pm CST in GST?
- 12:00 pm CST is 9:00 pm GST.
- What is 12:30 pm CST in GST?
- 12:30 pm CST is 9:30 pm GST.
- What is 2:00 pm CST in GST?
- 2:00 pm CST is 11:00 pm GST.
- What is 5:00 pm CST in GST?
- 5:00 pm CST is 2:00 am GST, the next day.
- What is 11:30 pm CST in GST?
- 11:30 pm CST is 8:30 am GST, the next day.