Forex Market Hours in Saudi Arabia
The forex market is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week in Saudi Arabia time. The four major forex sessions in Saudi Arabia time (AST, UTC+3) with the best trading window highlighted — auto DST aware via the live clock on the home page.
When does the forex market open in Saudi Arabia?
The forex market opens on Sunday at ~00:00 AST with the Sydney session and closes Saturday at ~00:00 AST after New York. In Saudi Arabia time, the four major sessions are: Sydney 01:00–10:00, Tokyo 03:00–12:00, London 11:00–20:00, and New York 16:00–01:00. The best trading window in Saudi Arabia is 16:00–20:00 AST — the London – New York overlap, which produces the highest liquidity and tightest spreads of the day.
- UTC+3AST timezone
- 16–20Best window AST
- No DSTSaudi Arabia year-round
- CMALocal regulator
Forex Sessions in Saudi Arabia Time (AST)
Standard times. The London and New York sessions shift 1 hour earlier when the UK/EU and US enter daylight saving time.
| Session | UTC | AST (Saudi Arabia) | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | 22:00 – 07:00 | 01:00 – 10:00 | Low |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | 00:00 – 09:00 | 03:00 – 12:00 | Medium |
| 🇬🇧 London | 08:00 – 17:00 | 11:00 – 20:00 | High |
| 🇺🇸 New York | 13:00 – 22:00 | 16:00 – 01:00 | Highest |
Best window for Saudi traders
- Highest liquidity — peak volume and tightest spreads (EUR/USD ~0.1–0.3 pip).
- Major USD news — US macro releases (NFP, CPI, FOMC) typically land in this window.
- Strong trends — European and US institutions are simultaneously active, producing the strongest directional moves.
- Best pairs — EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CHF, USD/JPY.
How DST Affects Forex Hours in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia does not observe daylight saving time — AST stays at UTC+3 year-round. But when the UK, EU, and US switch to summer time, their sessions shift 1 hour earlier in Saudi time for several months until they revert.
Standard time (winter)
London 11:00–20:00 AST · New York 16:00–01:00 AST · Best window 16:00–20:00 AST.
UK/EU summer (BST/CEST)
London shifts to 10:00–19:00 AST. Late March — late October.
US summer (EDT)
New York shifts to 15:00–00:00 AST. Mid-March — early November.
Forex Trading in Saudi Arabia — Regulatory Context
Forex trading is legal for Saudi residents. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulates Saudi Arabia's financial markets, including the Tadawul stock exchange and licensed financial institutions. Saudi Arabia's financial market is rapidly growing, and the CMA has been actively modernizing regulations as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
Many Saudi traders use offshore brokers regulated by tier-1 authorities such as the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), DFSA (Dubai/DIFC), or ASIC (Australia). The DFSA in neighboring Dubai is a particularly popular regulatory choice given its proximity and regional reputation. The Saudi riyal (SAR) is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 3.75 SAR per USD, which means SAR-denominated accounts have minimal currency conversion risk when trading USD-quoted pairs. Always verify a broker's regulation and segregated client funds before depositing.
Trading Holidays Affecting Saudi Arabia
The forex market itself remains open during Saudi national holidays since it is a global decentralized market. However, liquidity drops noticeably during major Western holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec), New Year's Day (1 Jan), and US Independence Day (4 July). Spreads can widen 3–5x during these periods.
For the full holiday calendar see our Forex Holiday Hours 2026 guide.
Trade the Best Hours With a Trusted Broker
You know exactly when to trade — 16:00–20:00 AST for the London–New York overlap. Now pick a regulated broker that supports Saudi residents with low spreads and fast execution on majors like EUR/USD and GBP/USD.
- Tier-1 regulation (FCA / CySEC / DFSA / ASIC)
- Tight spreads during London–NY overlap
- SAR deposit / withdrawal support
Frequently Asked Questions
What are forex market hours in Saudi Arabia?
In Saudi Arabia time (AST, UTC+3): Sydney 01:00–10:00, Tokyo 03:00–12:00, London 11:00–20:00, and New York 16:00–01:00. The market is open 24/5, from approximately Sunday 00:00 AST to Saturday 00:00 AST.
What is the best time to trade forex in Saudi Arabia?
16:00–20:00 AST — the London–New York overlap. This 4-hour window produces the highest liquidity, the tightest spreads on EUR/USD and GBP/USD, and accounts for over 50% of daily forex volume. US economic releases (NFP, CPI, FOMC) typically fall in this window.
Does daylight saving time affect forex hours in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia does not observe DST — AST remains UTC+3 year-round. However, when the US, UK, and EU switch to summer time, the London session shifts to 10:00–19:00 AST and the New York session shifts to 15:00–00:00 AST for several months.
Is forex trading legal in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Forex trading is legal for Saudi residents. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulates the Saudi financial market and licensed institutions. Many Saudi traders use offshore brokers regulated by FCA, CySEC, DFSA (Dubai), or ASIC. The Saudi riyal is pegged to USD at 3.75, giving SAR-denominated accounts minimal conversion risk on USD pairs.
What time does the London session open in Saudi Arabia?
The London session opens at 11:00 AST (08:00 UTC) and closes at 20:00 AST. During UK summer time (BST), the session shifts to 10:00–19:00 AST. London handles roughly 38% of daily forex volume globally.
What time does the New York session open in Saudi Arabia?
The New York session opens at 16:00 AST (13:00 UTC) and closes at 01:00 AST the next day. The first 4 hours overlap with London — this is the prime trading window for Saudi forex traders.
Forex Market Hours by Country
See live session times for other regions: Bangladesh (BST) · Pakistan (PKT) · UAE (GST) · India (IST) · all sessions worldwide.