Buyer time-zone planner
See the local time for your buyers, whether their office is open now, and the best time to call or message them from India. Check a meeting time across several countries at once.
Weekends shown are the usual working week for each country. Public holidays are not included, and individual companies can keep different hours.
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When buyers are at their desks, in IST
Typical office opening times converted to Indian Standard Time. Times move by an hour when daylight saving starts or ends, which the planner above handles for you.
| Region | Office opens 9:00 local | Working week |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf: UAE | 10:30 IST | Monday to Friday |
| Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain | 11:30 IST (10:30 IST for Oman) | Sunday to Thursday |
| UK | 13:30 IST in summer, 14:30 IST in winter | Monday to Friday |
| Central Europe | 12:30 IST in summer, 13:30 IST in winter | Monday to Friday |
| US East Coast | 18:30 IST in summer, 19:30 IST in winter | Monday to Friday |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China | 6:30 IST | Monday to Friday |
| Japan, South Korea | 5:30 IST | Monday to Friday |
Tips for reaching buyers in other time zones
- Send emails so they arrive at the start of the buyer's working day, when inboxes are read first.
- Propose meeting times in the buyer's own time zone, and add IST in brackets.
- Avoid Fridays and Saturdays for buyers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt.
- Check the date when clocks change in the USA and Europe, because the gap with India changes by an hour.
For what to say once you reach them, read how to follow up with foreign buyers and how to write an export quotation that wins orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to call US buyers from India?
New York offices usually open at 9:00, which is 18:30 IST during US daylight saving time and 19:30 IST the rest of the year. Early evening to late evening IST works best for the US East Coast. The West Coast is three hours later still.
What is the best time to call UK and European buyers from India?
London offices open at 9:00, which is 13:30 IST in British summer time and 14:30 IST in winter. Most of mainland Europe is one hour ahead of London, so afternoons in India are ideal.
Which countries have a Friday and Saturday weekend?
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Bangladesh and Israel generally work Sunday to Thursday. The UAE moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend in 2022. Always confirm with your buyer, because individual companies can differ.
Does this planner include daylight saving time?
Yes. It uses your browser's time-zone data, so clock changes in the USA, Europe, Australia and other regions are applied automatically for the date you choose.
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