Time in Iraq Right Now

The current time in Iraq follows Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3) all year round. Iraq does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), so clocks remain fixed at UTC+3 across all regions. The entire country — including Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Erbil — shares one national time zone.

The time in Iraq remains consistent throughout the year, ensuring smooth coordination for business, travel, and communication with neighboring countries.

For the live clock with seconds or time conversions, check the current time page or use the time converter.

Standard settings for this page

• IANA Time Zone: Asia/Baghdad

• UTC Offset: UTC +3

• Time Format: 24-hour clock

• DST Observed: No (abolished in 2008)

• Time Zone Abbreviation: AST (Arabia Standard Time)

Iraq’s time aligns with other Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, providing a shared regional standard.

Iraq time zone(s)

Iraq operates a single national time zone across the country.

The official IANA identifier for Iraq is Asia/Baghdad.

Daylight Saving Time in Iraq

Iraq does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).
DST was last implemented in 2008, after which the country decided to maintain standard time year-round (UTC+3).
This approach simplifies scheduling, travel, and business operations by keeping a constant national time.

Major cities in Iraq & their time

All major Iraqi cities use the same Arabia Standard Time year-round.

Quick facts — Iraq time

• Number of time zones: 1 (nationwide)

• Capital city: Baghdad

• Default zone: Arabia Standard Time (AST)

• Daylight Saving Time: Not observed since 2008

• IANA Time Zone ID: Asia/Baghdad

• Standard UTC offset: +3 hours

• DST UTC offset: Not applicable

• Time format: 24-hour system

• Neighboring countries with same time: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain

• Regional differences: None — single zone nationwide

For verified background, see 👉 Time in Iraq — Wikipedia.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Single national time zone — simple and consistent across all regions.

2. No DST changes — stable time all year round.

3. Regional alignment — matches Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

4. Predictable UTC+3 offset — easy for global coordination.

5. 24-hour format — clear and standardized.

Cons

1. No DST adjustment — shorter daylight during summer evenings.

2. Different offset — limited overlap with European working hours.