Many of us ask: exactly when does the US market open? The truth is, the answer is not as simple as it seems—especially if you’re in an Arab country and following from here.

The US market officially opens Monday to Friday at 9:30 AM New York time, and the session runs until 4:00 PM. But that’s not the whole story. Before the official opening and after the closing, during extended trading hours, you can see very large moves—especially when companies announce their results or release important news.

The issue is that if you’re in Saudi Arabia or the UAE, the time the US market opens in Saudi time differs from New York time. In Saudi Arabia, the official session starts at 5:30 PM and ends at midnight (12:00 AM). In the UAE, it’s almost the same: 6:30 PM to 1:00 AM. In Egypt, the times differ a bit due to the time difference; trading starts at around 4:30 PM.

But the most important need that many traders overlook is holidays. The US market is not open every day. In 2026, 2027, and 2028, there are specific official holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On some of these days, the market is completely closed. On other days, there is an early close at 1:00 PM New York time.

Personally, I learned from a past experience: I entered a trade an hour before an early close, thinking the market would be active, but the move was extremely weak and the spread widened. So I always check the calendar before any session.

The biggest events that move the market: Federal meetings (FOMC), which set interest rate policy; the quarterly earnings season for major companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon; and economic data such as inflation and jobs.

My best trading times: the first hour after the opening (from 9:30 to 10:30 AM New York time) has strong momentum and high liquidity. The last hour before the close (from 3:00 to 4:00 PM) is also important because institutions readjust their positions. The middle of the session is often quieter, but surprises can happen at any moment.

Something that many people don’t focus on is trading before and after official market hours. Big news can come out after the close, and the stock opens the next day with a large gap. The problem is that liquidity is lower, volatility is higher, and price differences widen. If you’re a beginner, I recommend that you only watch and avoid placing trades during these times.

In summary: understanding the US market opening time in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries is essential. But more importantly, you need to know that the market isn’t open every day, and at certain times liquidity is higher and the moves are clearer. Start with the official hours and avoid extended trading until you gain more experience. And always check the economic calendar before each session to avoid surprises.