Time
Live Business City Clocks
Business Hours Overlap
India: Mon–Sat 9:30 AM–6:30 PM IST | Saudi Arabia: Monday–Friday (shifted from Sun–Thu in 2021) 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM AST (government); private sector often 8 AM–5 PM
Saudi Arabia (AST, UTC+3) is 2 hours 30 minutes behind IST. Business overlap: IST 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM matches SAT 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. An 8-hour overlap on Mon–Fri.
IST ↔ Saudi Arabia Quick Reference
| 🇮🇳 IST | AST |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM IST | 5:30 AM AST |
| 10:30 AM IST | 8:00 AM AST |
| 12:00 PM IST | 9:30 AM AST |
| 3:00 PM IST | 12:30 PM AST |
| 6:30 PM IST | 4:00 PM AST |
| 9:00 PM IST | 6:30 PM AST |
Key Commercial Ports
🇮🇳 India
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNPT / Nhava Sheva | Mumbai | 24×7 | Primary petroleum products & chemicals inbound from Saudi |
| Mundra Port | Gujarat | 24×7 | LPG, fertilizers, and polymers from Saudi Arabia |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Islamic Port | Jeddah | 24×7 | Saudi's largest port; India's top export destination in KSA |
| King Abdul Aziz Port (Dammam) | Dammam | 24×7 | Eastern province gateway; petrochemical exports |
| Jubail Industrial Port | Jubail | 24×7 | Petrochemical & industrial goods; near SABIC facilities |
* Most major international ports operate 24×7 for vessel operations; customs clearance and gate hours vary. Always verify with the port authority or your freight forwarder.
Top Traded Goods
🇮🇳 India Exports to Saudi Arabia
- Rice & foodgrains
- Engineering goods
- Petroleum products
- Chemicals
- Apparel & textiles
- Pharmaceuticals
🇮🇳 India Imports from Saudi Arabia
- Crude oil (largest single import)
- LPG / LNG
- Chemical fertilizers (urea)
- Polymers & plastics
- Steel & metals
- Dates & dry fruits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between India and Saudi Arabia?
Indian Standard Time (IST, UTC+5:30) is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3). Saudi Arabia does not observe daylight saving time.
What are business days in Saudi Arabia?
Since January 2021, Saudi Arabia's official working week is Monday–Friday (shifted from Sunday–Thursday). Most government offices work 8 AM – 4 PM AST; private sector businesses often work 8 AM – 5 PM.
What does India import from Saudi Arabia?
Crude oil is India's single largest import from Saudi Arabia, making Saudi the 2nd largest oil supplier to India after Iraq. India also imports LPG, chemical fertilizers (urea), polymers, and steel from Saudi Arabia.
Is there a free trade agreement between India and Saudi Arabia?
India and Saudi Arabia are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement. Both are also part of the ongoing India–GCC FTA negotiations. In 2022, trade was ~$43 billion and both sides have targeted $100 billion by 2030.