Saudi Arabia +966
To call Saudi Arabia from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 966, then the local number without its leading 0. In full: +966 51 234 5678.
The country calling code for Saudi Arabia is +966. A number starting +966 or 00966 is a call to or from Saudi Arabia. From abroad: +966 51 234 5678.
To call Saudi Arabia from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 966, then the local number without its leading 0. The +966 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Saudi Arabia from abroad
011 966 51 234 567800 966 51 234 56780011 966 51 234 5678+966 51 234 567851 234 5678 is a real-format Saudi Arabia mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
Saudi Arabia area codes
In Saudi Arabia, landlines usually include an area code after +966 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
011 234 5678from abroad+966 11 234 5678051 234 5678from abroad+966 51 234 5678Landline numbers in Saudi Arabia have 9 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +966.
Calling abroad from Saudi Arabia
To call another country from Saudi Arabia, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Saudi Arabia to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A Saudi Arabia number in international format is written +966 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.
Cheapest ways to call Saudi Arabia
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Saudi Arabia for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +966?
Saudi Arabia has the country calling code +966.
How do I call Saudi Arabia from the United States?
Dial 011, then 966, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 51 234 5678.
What does +966 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Saudi Arabia. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +966 mobile or landline?
The +966 code identifies the country, not the line type; Saudi Arabia landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile networks in Saudi Arabia
5 mobile network operators run their own networks in Saudi Arabia. The largest is stc, with about 19.9 million subscribers (Q3 2010). Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.
Owned by 70% state owned and 30% private
Owned by Etisalat (27.45%)
Owned by Zain Group (37%)
Owned by Lebara
- 3G has been switched off on stc. A phone that only works on 3G will get no data there and may not be able to call: check that yours supports 4G with voice (VoLTE) before you go.
- 2G is gone on stc, which also affects old feature phones and some smartwatches or car trackers.
- 4G/5G frequency bands used in Saudi Arabia: 5G 2500, 5G 3500, LTE 1800, LTE 2100, LTE 700, LTE 900. Most recent smartphones cover them; older or regional models may miss some.
- Moving there? Mobile number portability has existed since 2006-07-08 and costs free.
Also available: virtual operators (MVNOs) that rent capacity on these networks — Virgin Mobile, Lebara Mobile.
Operators, subscriber counts, network codes and switch-off dates: Wikipedia (lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G/3G phase-out, mobile number portability), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Figures come from each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Getting a SIM card in Saudi Arabia
What visitors and new residents need to know before buying a local SIM or eSIM in Saudi Arabia, with a source for each point.
Partly restricted. Since September 2017 the regulator allows internet calls on apps meeting its requirements (e.g. FaceTime, Skype, Snapchat, Telegram), but WhatsApp voice/video calls remain restricted: the CST denied lifting the restriction in March 2024 and reports of calls working in 2025 were not officially confirmed.
Source: propakistani.pk
Buying a SIM as a visitor
Mandatory: every line is registered to an ID (passport for visitors, Iqama for residents, national ID for citizens) and anyone using a SIM card from any operator in Saudi Arabia must submit their fingerprints (biometric verification at operator branches or authorised distributors, per the regulator's rules).
Source: stc.com.sa
Where to buy it
stc, Mobily and Zain counters in the arrival halls of Riyadh (RUH) and Jeddah (JED) airports; operator stores in shopping malls and city districts. Registration is done on the passport at the point of sale.
Source: gigago.com
Scam calls and texts
Forward fraudulent or spam SMS to 330330 (free for operators' subscribers), a CST service. No national do-not-call registry identified.
Source: cst.gov.sa
Emergency numbers
Unified emergency number 911 (Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Eastern Province); elsewhere Police 999, Ambulance (Red Crescent) 997, Civil Defence / fire 998.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Checked on 28 September 2026 against the sources linked on each card (regulators, government portals and operators first). SIM and ID rules change often: confirm with the operator before you travel.
Staying connected in Saudi Arabia
With 160 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, almost everyone in Saudi Arabia has a mobile — a WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call is usually the easiest way in. Internet use is high (100 %), so app-to-app calls over Wi-Fi are a safe bet.
Source: World Bank / ITU World Telecommunication indicators (IT.CEL.SETS.P2, IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.MLT.MAIN.P2), latest available year.
Free and premium numbers in Saudi Arabia
+966 800 123 4567Free from inside Saudi Arabia (numbers starting with 800). From abroad these numbers are often unreachable or charged at the international rate.
+966 9250 12345Surcharged services — ranges starting with 925. Do not call back an unknown missed call from such a range: the cost is far above a normal call.
Number ranges: ITU-T national numbering plan for Saudi Arabia via Google libphonenumber.
Qatar +974
Oman +968
Iraq +964
Yemen +967
Jordan +962
United Arab Emirates +971
Kuwait +965