Current Time in Africa/Khartoum Time Zone
IANA Name: Africa/Khartoum
Standard Offset: UTC +02:00
Daylight Saving: No
Currently Observing DST: No ❌
Africa/Khartoum Time Zone: Sudan's Unwavering CAT
The Africa/Khartoum time zone is the canonical IANA identifier for the Republic of Sudan. It observes Central Africa Time (CAT) year-round at a fixed offset of UTC+02:00. This zone covers the entire country, including its capital Khartoum, and does not use daylight saving time. Understanding this zone is essential for coordinating with Sudan, a key nation in Northeast Africa.
Scope and Usage
Africa/Khartoum applies exclusively to Sudan. It is one of 13 IANA zones sharing the same standard offset of UTC+02:00, including Africa/Cairo (Egypt), Africa/Johannesburg (South Africa), Africa/Maputo (Mozambique), and others. However, unlike many of these, Sudan does not observe daylight saving time. The offset remains constant throughout the year, providing a stable reference for scheduling.
Offset and Abbreviation
The offset is UTC+02:00, meaning Sudan is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. The abbreviation CAT stands for Central Africa Time. This abbreviation is used consistently across the region, though some countries at this offset use different names (e.g., Eastern European Time in Egypt). In Sudan, CAT is the official time zone designation.
Daylight Saving Time: None
Sudan has not observed daylight saving time since 1970. The country tried DST briefly in the past but abandoned it. As a result, the annual rhythm is flat: no spring-forward or fall-back adjustments. This simplifies scheduling for businesses and travelers, as the time difference with other zones remains constant year-round.
Key Cities and Countries
The primary city is Khartoum, the capital and largest city. Other major cities include Omdurman, Khartoum North, Port Sudan, Kassala, Nyala, and El Obeid. All of Sudan uses Africa/Khartoum. No other country uses this specific zone; neighboring countries use different zones: Libya (Africa/Tripoli, UTC+02:00 but with DST), Chad (Africa/Ndjamena, UTC+01:00), and South Sudan (Africa/Juba, UTC+02:00, but also no DST).
Practical Guidance for Business and Calls
When scheduling calls with Sudan, note that the time difference with major financial centers is stable. For example, London (UTC+00:00 winter, UTC+01:00 summer) is 1 or 2 hours behind Sudan depending on the season. New York (UTC-05:00 winter, UTC-04:00 summer) is 6 or 7 hours behind. Dubai (UTC+04:00) is 2 hours ahead. The best overlap for business hours (9:00-17:00) with Europe is typically 9:00-12:00 UTC, which is 11:00-14:00 in Sudan. For the US East Coast, mornings in Sudan (9:00-12:00) overlap with late nights/early mornings in the US (3:00-6:00 AM EST), so afternoon calls from Sudan (14:00-17:00) correspond to 8:00-11:00 AM EST, a better window.
Historical Context
Sudan's time zone history includes periods of UTC+03:00 (Eastern European Time) and UTC+02:00 with DST. Since 1970, the country has maintained UTC+02:00 year-round. The IANA database entry reflects this stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in Khartoum?
Does Sudan observe daylight saving time?
No, Sudan does not observe daylight saving time. The country has not changed its clocks since 1970. The time offset remains UTC+02:00 year-round.
What countries share the same time zone as Sudan?
Sudan shares the same standard offset (UTC+02:00) with many African countries, including Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and others. However, each country may have its own IANA zone (e.g., Africa/Cairo for Egypt). Some of these countries observe DST, so the actual time may differ during certain periods.
What is the time difference between Khartoum and New York?
New York is typically 6 or 7 hours behind Khartoum, depending on daylight saving time. During New York's standard time (EST, UTC-05:00), Khartoum is 7 hours ahead. During New York's daylight time (EDT, UTC-04:00), the difference is 6 hours.
Is Africa/Khartoum the same as Africa/Juba?
Both zones observe UTC+02:00 year-round and do not use DST. However, they are separate IANA zones because they belong to different countries (Sudan and South Sudan). In practice, they share the same current time, but historical changes may differ.
What is the best time to call Khartoum from London?
London is 1 or 2 hours behind Khartoum depending on DST. During London's standard time (UTC+00:00), Khartoum is 2 hours ahead. During London's daylight time (UTC+01:00), the difference is 1 hour. A good overlap for business hours is 10:00-12:00 London time, which is 11:00-13:00 or 12:00-14:00 in Khartoum.