Saudi Arabia Phone Numbers: Country Code +966, Format & Validation

Saudi Arabia phone numbers use country code +966 for all international calls. Every Saudi phone number contains exactly 9 digits after the country code, creating a consistent 12-digit E.164 format. Whether you need to call Saudi Arabia from the US, validate Saudi mobile numbers, or understand area codes for cities like Riyadh (011), Jeddah (012), or Dammam (013), this comprehensive guide covers Saudi Arabia's phone number structure, validation rules, mobile and landline formats, carrier prefixes, and international dialing instructions based on official CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission) regulations.

Language Note: Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. When sending SMS to Saudi Arabia phone numbers, support both Arabic (UTF-16 encoding) and English (GSM-7 encoding) for communications. Arabic SMS messages support 70 characters per message versus 160 for English due to Unicode encoding requirements.

Saudi Arabia Country Code and Number Format

Country Code: +966

The Saudi Arabia country code is +966 (also written as 00966 when dialing internationally). Saudi Arabia's national numbering plan changed significantly in 2013 when CITC added the digit '1' before geographic area codes, expanding the system from 8-digit to 9-digit local numbers.¹

Legacy Numbers: Systems handling pre-2013 data may encounter 8-digit formats. Check if historical records lack the '1' prefix for landlines. Accept only 9-digit formats (after country code) for new entries in modern systems.

Standard Format

International E.164 Format: +966 XX XXX XXXX

• Minimum length: 9 digits (excluding country code)
• Maximum length: 9 digits (excluding country code) for standard numbers
• Total E.164 length: 12 digits (including +966)

Local Format: 0XX XXX XXXX

• Use the leading '0' for domestic dialing only
• Drop the '0' when dialing internationally

Saudi Arabia Area Codes for Landline Numbers

Saudi Arabia landline numbers use two-digit area codes starting with '1'. All landline numbers follow the format 01X XXX XXXX domestically or +966 1X XXX XXXX internationally. Understanding Saudi Arabia area codes is essential when calling cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam from abroad.¹

Landline Usage: Mobile phones dominate communications in Saudi Arabia with 132% mobile penetration (2022), while landlines account for only 6.77 million connections (2024).² Businesses use landlines for official registration and customer service centers. Mobile numbers are preferred for direct communications and SMS services.

Reserved Area Codes: 010, 015, 018, 019 are reserved for future use.¹

Example:

• Local: 011 123 4567 (Riyadh)
• International: +966 11 123 4567

Saudi Mobile Number Prefixes by Carrier

All Saudi mobile numbers start with the digit '5' and follow the format 05X XXX XXXX domestically or +966 5X XXX XXXX internationally. The second digit identifies the carrier—such as 050 for STC, 054 for Mobily, or 058 for Zain.³

Major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Note: Saudi Arabia implemented mobile number portability (MNP) in July 2006 using an All Call Query (ACQ) system with a centralized database managed by CITC.¹ A number's prefix may not indicate the current carrier.

MNP Process: Submit a request to the new provider with valid Iqama (residence ID) and account information to port your number between carriers. The porting process completes within 24 hours for domestic transfers, though documentation verification may add 1–2 business days. No early-termination fees apply after your contract period ends.⁴

Example:

• Local: 055 123 4567 (STC mobile)
• International: +966 55 123 4567

Special Service Numbers

Toll-Free and Shared Cost Numbers

Pricing Note: Toll-free 800 numbers cost approximately SAR 230 one-time setup fee plus SAR 40.25 monthly subscription (prices include 15% VAT, as of 2024).⁶ Callers pay nothing, but these numbers only work from within Saudi Arabia – international callers cannot reach Saudi toll-free numbers.

Other Service Numbers

Emergency and Important Services

Saudi Arabia operates multiple emergency numbers. The universal emergency number 112 and the unified emergency number 911 are both active. The 911 system operates in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions and is expanding nationwide.⁷

Language Support: Emergency operators answer initially in Arabic but provide English-speaking operators upon request. Multilingual support is available in English, French, German, Bahasa Indonesia, and Urdu. Request English support immediately when calling if you do not speak Arabic. Use 112 for emergency access when calling from a non-Saudi SIM card.⁸

Response Times: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) receives 15,000 to 22,000 emergency calls monthly. Ambulance response times vary due to high call volumes. In major cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam), direct transport to the nearest hospital may be faster than waiting for ambulance services. Register with a local hospital that operates its own ambulance service for faster emergency response.⁸

Emergency Services

Other Important Numbers

How to Validate Saudi Arabia Phone Numbers

Validating Saudi Arabia phone numbers ensures accurate data collection and successful call routing. Use these validation patterns to verify Saudi mobile and landline numbers in your applications.

Format Validation Regex

Mobile Numbers:

^\+?966\s?5[0-9]\s?\d{3}\s?\d{4}$

Landline Numbers:

^\+?966\s?1[1-47]\s?\d{3}\s?\d{4}$

Complete Saudi Number (Mobile or Landline):

^\+?966\s?(5[0-9]|1[1-47])\s?\d{3}\s?\d{4}$

International Prefix Variations: Accept both +966 and 00966 prefixes when validating international format. Remove all whitespace, hyphens, and parentheses before pattern matching.

Validation Checklist

1. Country Code: Must be +966 or 966 (for international) or start with 0 (for domestic)
2. Length: Exactly 9 digits after country code (12 total in E.164)
3. Mobile Numbers: Second digit must be '5', third digit 0-9
4. Landline Numbers: Second digit must be '1', third digit must be 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7
5. Leading Zero: Remove when formatting for international dialing
6. Spacing: Commonly formatted as XX XXX XXXX but spacing is optional

Common Validation Errors

How to Call Saudi Arabia: International Dialing Guide

How to Call Saudi Arabia from the US

Calling Saudi Arabia from the United States:

1. Dial 011 (US exit code)
2. Dial 966 (Saudi Arabia country code)
3. Dial area code or mobile prefix without the leading 0
4. Dial the remaining 7 digits

Example: To call +966 55 123 4567 from the US:

• Dial: 011-966-55-123-4567

From other countries:

• Dial your country's international access code (00 from most of Europe, 0011 from Australia)
• Then dial 966 followed by the Saudi number without the leading 0

Example: To call +966 12 345 6789 (Jeddah landline) from the UK:

• Dial: 00-966-12-345-6789

VoIP and Internet Calling

WhatsApp Calls: As of February 2025, WhatsApp voice and video calls are intermittently available in Saudi Arabia after being restricted since 2019. CITC has not announced an official policy change. Availability varies by network and may be temporary. Do not rely solely on WhatsApp for critical communications.⁹

Licensed VoIP Services: Government-approved alternatives include BOTIM (requires carrier subscription) and IMO (free). Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are officially permitted for business communications. Traditional VoIP services like Skype calling may face restrictions.⁹

Legal Considerations: Using VPNs to bypass telecommunications restrictions is not explicitly illegal but may violate local regulations. Use licensed services for the most reliable and compliant communication options.

Domestic Calls within Saudi Arabia

Mobile to Mobile or Landline:

• Dial the full 10-digit number including the leading 0
• Format: 0XX XXX XXXX

Example:

• 055 123 4567 (mobile)
• 011 234 5678 (Riyadh landline)

Note: International dialing from Saudi Arabia uses the access code 00.

Practical Examples

Valid Phone Number Formats

Display vs Storage: Store numbers in E.164 format (+966XXXXXXXXX) in databases for consistency and international compatibility. Format for display based on user locale – show domestic format (0XX XXX XXXX) to Saudi users and international format (+966 XX XXX XXXX) to others.

Code Examples

JavaScript/TypeScript Validation:

function validateSaudiPhone(phone) {
  // Remove all spaces, hyphens, and parentheses
  const cleaned = phone.replace(/[\s\-\(\)]/g, '');

  // Handle international prefix variations (00966 or +966)
  const normalized = cleaned.replace(/^00966/, '+966');

  // Check E.164 format with error details
  const e164Regex = /^\+9665[0-9]{8}$/;
  if (e164Regex.test(normalized)) return { valid: true, type: 'mobile' };

  const e164LandlineRegex = /^\+9661[1-47][0-9]{7}$/;
  if (e164LandlineRegex.test(normalized)) return { valid: true, type: 'landline' };

  // Check domestic mobile format
  const domesticMobileRegex = /^05[0-9]{8}$/;
  if (domesticMobileRegex.test(normalized)) return { valid: true, type: 'mobile' };

  // Check domestic landline format
  const domesticLandlineRegex = /^01[1-47][0-9]{7}$/;
  if (domesticLandlineRegex.test(normalized)) return { valid: true, type: 'landline' };

  return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid Saudi phone number format' };
}

// Usage
console.log(validateSaudiPhone('+966551234567'));     // { valid: true, type: 'mobile' }
console.log(validateSaudiPhone('00966551234567'));    // { valid: true, type: 'mobile' }
console.log(validateSaudiPhone('055 123 4567'));      // { valid: true, type: 'mobile' }
console.log(validateSaudiPhone('011 234 5678'));      // { valid: true, type: 'landline' }

Python Validation:

import re
from typing import Dict, Union

def validate_saudi_phone(phone: str) -> Dict[str, Union[bool, str]]:
    """Validate Saudi Arabia phone number with detailed error handling."""
    # Remove all non-digit characters except +
    cleaned = re.sub(r'[^\d+]', '', phone)

    # Handle international prefix variations (00966 or +966)
    normalized = re.sub(r'^00966', '+966', cleaned)

    # E.164 format: +966 followed by 9 digits starting with 5 (mobile) or 1 (landline)
    mobile_pattern = r'^\+9665\d{8}$'
    if re.match(mobile_pattern, normalized):
        return {'valid': True, 'type': 'mobile', 'format': 'e164'}

    landline_pattern = r'^\+9661[1-47]\d{7}$'
    if re.match(landline_pattern, normalized):
        return {'valid': True, 'type': 'landline', 'format': 'e164'}

    # Domestic format: 0 followed by 5 (mobile) or 1 (landline) and 8 more digits
    domestic_mobile_pattern = r'^05\d{8}$'
    if re.match(domestic_mobile_pattern, normalized):
        return {'valid': True, 'type': 'mobile', 'format': 'domestic'}

    domestic_landline_pattern = r'^01[1-47]\d{7}$'
    if re.match(domestic_landline_pattern, normalized):
        return {'valid': True, 'type': 'landline', 'format': 'domestic'}

    return {'valid': False, 'error': 'Invalid Saudi phone number format'}

# Usage
print(validate_saudi_phone('+966551234567'))   # {'valid': True, 'type': 'mobile', 'format': 'e164'}
print(validate_saudi_phone('00966551234567'))  # {'valid': True, 'type': 'mobile', 'format': 'e164'}
print(validate_saudi_phone('055 123 4567'))    # {'valid': True, 'type': 'mobile', 'format': 'domestic'}
print(validate_saudi_phone('011 234 5678'))    # {'valid': True, 'type': 'landline', 'format': 'domestic'}

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the country code for Saudi Arabia?

The country code for Saudi Arabia is +966. Use this code before the local number when calling Saudi Arabia from abroad.

How many digits are in a Saudi Arabia phone number?

Saudi Arabia phone numbers contain exactly 9 digits after the country code, making the total length 12 digits in international E.164 format (+966 XX XXX XXXX).

How do I call a Saudi mobile number from the US?

To call a Saudi mobile number from the US:

1. Dial 011 (US exit code)
2. Dial 966 (Saudi country code)
3. Dial the mobile number without the leading 0 (e.g., 55 123 4567) Complete example: 011-966-55-123-4567

What is the difference between Saudi mobile and landline numbers?

• Mobile numbers start with 5 (e.g., 055 123 4567)
• Landline numbers start with 1 (e.g., 011 234 5678)

The second digit after the country code identifies whether it's mobile or landline.

Which mobile carrier uses prefix 050?

Prefix 050 belongs to Saudi Telecom Company (STC), along with prefixes 053 and 055. However, due to mobile number portability active since 2006, the prefix may not always indicate the current carrier.

What is the emergency number in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia uses two main emergency numbers:

• 112: Universal emergency number
• 911: Unified Security Operations Center (operational in Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions)

Other emergency services: 997 (ambulance), 998 (fire), 999 (police).

Do I need to drop the 0 when calling Saudi Arabia internationally?

Yes, always remove the leading 0 when dialing Saudi numbers internationally. The 0 is only used for domestic dialing within Saudi Arabia.

What area code is 011 in Saudi Arabia?

Area code 011 serves the Central Region, including Riyadh and Al-Kharj. Format the number as +966 11 XXX XXXX when calling from abroad.

Can I send SMS to Saudi numbers using Arabic text?

Yes, but Arabic SMS uses UTF-16 encoding which limits messages to 70 characters per segment (vs. 160 for English/GSM-7). Plan message content accordingly and consider that longer Arabic messages will be split into multiple SMS segments.

How do I know if a Saudi 800 number can receive international calls?

Saudi Arabia toll-free (800) numbers are only accessible from within Saudi Arabia. International callers cannot reach these numbers. Use standard geographic or mobile numbers for international customer support.

Key Facts Summary

• Country Code: +966
• Number Length: 9 digits (excluding country code)
• Mobile Prefix: Always starts with 5 (05X XXX XXXX)
• Landline Prefix: Always starts with 1 (01X XXX XXXX)
• Emergency Number: 112 (universal), 911 (unified)
• Number Portability: Active since July 2006, typical completion within 24 hours
• Regulatory Authority: CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission)
• Mobile Penetration: 132% (2022), indicating multiple devices per capita
• VoIP Regulations: Government-approved services (BOTIM, IMO) recommended; WhatsApp call status uncertain

References