Offset
The time difference between Gulf Standard Time and Central Time is 9 hours.
Gulf Standard Time (GST) is ahead of Central Time (CDT).
GST: UTC+4
CDT: UTC-5
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 Gulf Standard Time and Central Time don't overlap on the same weekday. Central Time is 9 hours behind Gulf Standard Time.
With some flexibility, there’s a workable window outside standard hours:
- 4 PM–8 PM in Gulf Standard Time (7 AM–11 AM in Central Time) — suggest 6:00 PM Gulf Standard Time (9:00 AM Central 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
Gulf Standard Time is also known as GST. To call United Arab Emirates, dial +971.
Central Time is also known as CST, or CDT. To call United States, dial +1.
Central Time is approximately 7,250 miles northwest of Gulf Standard Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| GST | CST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 3:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 4:00 pm | -1 day |
| 2:00 am | 5:00 pm | -1 day |
| 3:00 am | 6:00 pm | -1 day |
| 4:00 am | 7:00 pm | -1 day |
| 5:00 am | 8:00 pm | -1 day |
| 6:00 am | 9:00 pm | -1 day |
| 7:00 am | 10:00 pm | -1 day |
| 8:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 9:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same 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
- 5:29 AM
- Sunset
- 7:07 PM
- Day length
- 13h 38m
- Sunrise
- 5:18 AM
- Sunset
- 8:22 PM
- Day length
- 15h 4m
Cities in these zones
Cities in Gulf Standard Time
Cities in Central Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Gulf Standard Time
- DWC
- DXB
- SHJ
- AUH
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am GST in CST?
- 9:00 am GST is 12:00 am CST.
- What is 12:00 pm GST in CST?
- 12:00 pm GST is 3:00 am CST.
- What is 12:30 pm GST in CST?
- 12:30 pm GST is 3:30 am CST.
- What is 2:00 pm GST in CST?
- 2:00 pm GST is 5:00 am CST.
- What is 5:00 pm GST in CST?
- 5:00 pm GST is 8:00 am CST.
- What is 11:30 pm GST in CST?
- 11:30 pm GST is 2:30 pm CST.