Reunion Time (RET)
UTC offset: +04:00
IANA identifier: Indian/Reunion
Abbreviation: RET
Population: approximately 900,000
DST observed: No
Reunion runs at UTC+04:00 year-round. No daylight saving. The island sits in the western Indian Ocean, about 700 km east of Madagascar and 170 km southwest of Mauritius. Despite being 9,400 km from Paris, it is a full French department (like any department in metropolitan France), part of the European Union, and uses the euro.
The offset is shared with Mauritius, Seychelles, the UAE, Oman, and parts of Russia.
Saint-Denis
The capital (~150,000) on the northern coast, squeezed between the ocean and steep mountain slopes. It's a small city with French colonial architecture, administrative buildings, a university, and a commercial center that could pass for a modest French town except for the tropical vegetation and the Indian Ocean backdrop. The Barachois waterfront promenade is the social center.
Business hours follow French norms: 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. to noon, then 2:00 to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. The two-hour lunch break is observed. Government offices and banks close on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Piton de la Fournaise
One of the world's most active volcanoes (averaging one eruption per year). The southeastern section of the island is the volcano's domain. Eruptions are typically effusive (lava flows rather than explosive), sending rivers of molten rock toward the coast. The Enclos Fouque caldera is accessible by road (when the volcano isn't erupting). The lava fields are otherworldly: black, barren, still warm in places.
Piton de la Fournaise is monitored by a world-class volcanological observatory. Eruptions are well-predicted, and evacuations are rare. The most recent significant eruption that reached the ocean occurred in 2007.
Piton des Neiges
The highest point in the Indian Ocean (3,070 m) and the extinct volcanic center of the island. Surrounding it are three vast cirques: Cilaos, Mafate, and Salazie. These are deep, cliff-walled amphitheaters carved by erosion, home to small settlements accessed by winding roads (Cilaos, Salazie) or no roads at all (Mafate, reachable only on foot or by helicopter).
The cirques, pitons, and ramparts are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2010).
Population and Culture
Reunion is genuinely multicultural. The population descends from French settlers, African slaves, Malagasy, Indians (both Tamil and Gujarati), Chinese, and Comorians. This mix produced Reunion Creole (a French-based creole) and a distinctive cuisine blending all these influences. Cari (curry), rougail (spicy tomato relish), samosas, and bonbons piment are staples.
Religious diversity follows the ethnic mix: Catholicism is dominant, but Hindu temples, mosques, and Chinese pagodas are present. The Tamil fire-walking ceremony (marche sur le feu) and the Hindu Cavadee festival draw large crowds.
Economy
Sugar cane remains important (rum production especially, with brands like Charrette and Savanna). Tourism is growing (mostly from France, targeting hikers, volcano enthusiasts, and beach visitors). The French government is the largest employer. Unemployment is chronically high (around 20-25%), driving significant emigration to metropolitan France.
Vanilla production from the east coast (Bourbon vanilla gets its name from the island's former name: Ile Bourbon) is prestigious but small in quantity compared to Madagascar.
Scheduling
At UTC+04:00:
- France (CET): 3 hours ahead (winter), 2 hours ahead (summer)
- Mauritius: same time
- Seychelles: same time
- Dubai (UAE): same time
- India (IST): 1.5 hours behind
- Mayotte: 1 hour behind
The 2-3 hour gap with Paris is manageable for business. Afternoon in Reunion overlaps with French morning.
Neighboring Zones
| Zone | Offset | Difference from RET |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | UTC+04:00 | Same |
| Seychelles | UTC+04:00 | Same |
| Madagascar | UTC+03:00 | 1 hour behind |
| Mayotte (France) | UTC+03:00 | 1 hour behind |
| France (CET) | UTC+01:00 | 3 hours behind |
| India | UTC+05:30 | 1.5 hours ahead |
| UAE | UTC+04:00 | Same |
Technical Identifiers
- Indian/Reunion (IANA canonical)
- RET (Reunion Time)
- Windows: "Mauritius Standard Time" (shared offset)
- Military/aviation: D ("Delta") for UTC+04:00
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| UTC offset | +04:00 |
| DST observed | No |
| IANA zone | Indian/Reunion |
| Population | ~900,000 |
| Capital | Saint-Denis |
| Part of | France (full department, EU member) |
| Active volcano | Piton de la Fournaise |
| Highest point | Piton des Neiges (3,070 m) |
| UNESCO site | Pitons, cirques and ramparts (2010) |
| Same offset as | Mauritius, Seychelles, UAE |