Quick answer: +966 is Saudi Arabia. Every Saudi number has 9 digits after +966. Mobiles start with 5. If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+966 50 123 4567.
How to dial Saudi Arabia
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +966 + 9 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 966 + 9 digits |
| UK, UAE, India or Pakistan landline | 00 966 + 9 digits |
Saudis write numbers with a leading 0, like 050 123 4567 or 011 234 5678. That 0 is only for calls inside Saudi Arabia. From abroad, leave it out: 011 234 5678 becomes +966 11 234 5678. Riyadh's 011 is an area code, not the US exit code, so from a US landline a Riyadh number is 011 966 11 234 5678.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles are 05 plus one more digit and a 7-digit number inside Saudi Arabia, written 050 123 4567. From abroad that is +966 50 123 4567.
Landlines are a regional area code plus a 7-digit local number. Every area code starts with 01.
| City | Area code in Saudi Arabia | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 011 | +966 11 xxx xxxx |
| Jeddah, Mecca, Taif | 012 | +966 12 xxx xxxx |
| Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran | 013 | +966 13 xxx xxxx |
| Medina, Tabuk | 014 | +966 14 xxx xxxx |
| Buraidah (Qassim), Hail | 016 | +966 16 xxx xxxx |
| Abha, Jizan, Najran | 017 | +966 17 xxx xxxx |
Codes that get mixed up with +966
+965 is Kuwait, +967 is Yemen and +968 is Oman, each one digit away. The UAE is +971.
Time difference
Saudi Arabia is on AST (UTC+3) all year, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes when your own clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Saudi Arabia is 7 hours ahead | Saudi Arabia is 8 hours ahead |
| US West Coast | Saudi Arabia is 10 hours ahead | Saudi Arabia is 11 hours ahead |
| UK | Saudi Arabia is 2 hours ahead | Saudi Arabia is 3 hours ahead |
| India | Saudi Arabia is 2h 30m behind all year | |
| Pakistan | Saudi Arabia is 2 hours behind all year | |
A 7 AM call from New York reaches Riyadh at 2 PM in the US summer and 3 PM in the US winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
I have an old Saudi landline number starting 01 or 02. Does it still work?
Not as written. In 2013 Saudi Arabia added a 1 after the 0 of every landline area code, so 01 became 011, 02 became 012 and so on. An old Riyadh number 01 234 5678 is now 011 234 5678, or +966 11 234 5678 from abroad.
Can I call a Saudi 800 or 9200 number from abroad?
Usually not. Saudi 800 toll-free and 9200 numbers are generally set up for callers inside Saudi Arabia, so from another country the call often won't connect. Look for the company's regular +966 number.