Saudi Arabia Calling Code: +966

Complete guide to calling Saudi Arabia — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.

How to Call Saudi Arabia from Abroad

About Saudi Arabia Calling Code

Saudi Arabia's international dialing code is +966. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling Saudi Arabia from another country. Saudi Arabia is located in Asia.

Saudi Arabia is known locally as المملكة العربية السعودية — Riyadh is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +966 so it works from any country.

Country calling codes (also known as ISD codes or dialing codes) are telephone numbering plan prefixes defined by ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164. Each country is assigned one or more unique prefixes to facilitate international direct dialing.

Where the +966 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +966 is assigned to Saudi Arabia, located in Western Asia, with the capital Riyadh. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Saudi Arabia from outside the country.

When you see a phone number written as +966 ..., the +966 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to Saudi Arabia's national telephone network. After the country code, you dial the local area code (dropping any leading 0) and the subscriber number. The same format applies whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone.

Country codes are allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T Recommendation E.164) and are grouped by geographic region. Calling codes starting with 9 are generally assigned to the region around Saudi Arabia, in Western Asia. When a phone number is stored internationally, the leading zeros of the domestic area code are omitted after the country code — this is why you will often see numbers written as +966 followed directly by the area code and number.

Saudi Arabia Phone Number Formats

Phone numbers in Saudi Arabia follow the ITU E.164 international format: country code + area code + subscriber number. Below is the general structure used for both landlines and mobile numbers.

Most countries use a closed or open telephone numbering plan. In an open plan, the length of local numbers varies and the trunk prefix (usually 0) is dropped when dialing internationally. In a closed plan, all national numbers have a fixed length regardless of area. When dialing Saudi Arabia from abroad, always replace the leading trunk zero with the country code +966.

Time Zone in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is in the Asia/Riyadh time zone, which is UTC+03:00 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If you are calling from a different time zone, remember to account for the time difference when scheduling your international call.

When planning a call to Saudi Arabia, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Riyadh, the capital, during their working hours may be early morning or late evening in your own time zone. Many international callers use the UTC offset as a quick reference to avoid calling in the middle of the night.

Some countries observe daylight saving time (DST), which shifts the local clock by one hour during summer months. If Saudi Arabia uses DST, the effective offset changes twice a year — check the current UTC offset before dialing if your call is time-sensitive. For most purposes, however, the standard offset shown above is sufficient.

Emergency Numbers in Saudi Arabia

If you need urgent help while in Saudi Arabia, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Saudi Arabia.

Service	Number
Police	911
Fire	911
Ambulance	911

Example: Calling Saudi Arabia Numbers in Practice

Here is how a typical call to Saudi Arabia works, depending on where you are calling from:

If the number you are calling has a domestic trunk prefix (often 0) in front of the area code, omit it when dialing from abroad. The country code +966 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.

Calling Saudi Arabia from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing Saudi Arabia (+966) from abroad:

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 966 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 966 [local number]
Australia	0011	0011 966 [local number]
China	00	00 966 [local number]
Japan	010	010 966 [local number]
India	00	00 966 [local number]
Germany	00	00 966 [local number]
France	00	00 966 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +966 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Saudi Arabia?

The international calling code for Saudi Arabia is +966.

How do I call Saudi Arabia from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +966, then the local phone number.

How do I call Saudi Arabia from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +966, then the local phone number.

Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +966 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Saudi Arabia?

If you're already in Saudi Arabia, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +966 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?

The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +966 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Saudi Arabia?

Police: 911, Fire: 911, Ambulance: 911. These numbers are only valid inside Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Mobile Phone Prefixes

Mobile phone numbers in Saudi Arabia typically use the following prefixes:

• 5x - all mobile numbers start with 05

Saudi Arabia City / Area Codes

Major cities in Saudi Arabia and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +966 when calling from abroad):

City	Area Code(s)
Riyadh	11
Jeddah	12
Mecca	12
Medina	14
Dammam	13

Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Riyadh 11 becomes +966 11 + local number.

Other Countries in Asia

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Saudi Arabia from Kazakhstan or Malaysia works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +966, then the local number. Within Asia, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.