Time zone meeting planner
Chicago and Dubai: plan a meeting across time zones
Chicago and Dubai are 9 hours apart (Dubai ahead). See the best meeting time, upcoming holidays and clock-change dates for both.
The time difference
For most of the year, Dubai is 9 hours ahead of Chicago. That gap does not hold all year — here is how it actually moves:
- 1 January to 7 March: Dubai is 10 hours ahead of Chicago
- 8 March to 31 October: Dubai is 9 hours ahead of Chicago
- 1 November to 31 December: Dubai is 10 hours ahead of Chicago
Best time to meet
Chicago and Dubai do not share a normal working-hours window. The best compromise is 8 AM in Chicago / 5 PM in Dubai — still early or late for whoever is furthest from a normal day, which is the honest trade-off at this distance.
Clock changes to plan around
- Chicago changes clocks — 2026: 8 March and 1 November; 2027: 14 March and 7 November.
- Dubai does not change clocks.
Upcoming public holidays
- 12 October — Chicago: Columbus Day
- 11 November — Chicago: Veterans Day
- 26 November — Chicago: Thanksgiving Day
- 25 December — Chicago: Christmas Day
- 2 December — Dubai: National Day
- 3 December — Dubai: National Day
- 1 January 2027 — Dubai: New Year's Day
- 9 March 2027 — Dubai: Eid al-Fitr
Holiday data uses country-level public calendars and may miss regional observances or company shutdowns — confirm with your participant if the date matters.
Questions about Chicago and Dubai
What time is it in Dubai when it is 9 AM in Chicago?
For most of the year, 9 AM in Chicago is 6 PM in Dubai (UTC-5 against UTC+4). During the weeks listed above when the gap shifts, it moves by an hour. Open the planner for a specific date.
Does Chicago or Dubai change clocks first?
Dubai does not observe daylight saving time; Chicago does, so the gap shifts when Chicago changes clocks.
Is there a public holiday in Chicago or Dubai soon?
Chicago: Columbus Day on 12 October. Dubai: National Day on 2 December.