What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

What is Saudi Arabia's time zone, and does it observe DST?

Saudi Arabia observes Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3) with no daylight saving adjustments, making scheduling via letsdial consistently predictable year-round. AST is 3 hours ahead of UTC, placing it one hour ahead of most of Western Europe in winter. For US Eastern time callers, Saudi Arabia is 8 hours ahead, meaning a 9 AM Riyadh call corresponds to 1 AM ET the same morning.

Does Saudi Arabia follow a Sunday–Thursday working week?

Historically yes — Saudi Arabia followed a Saturday–Wednesday weekend, but it shifted to a Friday–Saturday weekend, making Saturday–Wednesday the work week and then aligning further. As of recent years, the official weekend is Friday–Saturday, with Sunday the start of the business week. Confirm your specific contact's schedule before scheduling letsdial calls, as practices vary by sector and employer.

Is WhatsApp dominant for business outreach in Saudi Arabia before a letsdial call?

Yes — WhatsApp is the primary communication platform in Saudi Arabia, used extensively across all demographics and business sectors. A WhatsApp introduction before a letsdial call is not just helpful but often expected for first contact with Saudi professionals. Voice notes on WhatsApp are also popular in Saudi business culture, making them a useful relationship-building tool before escalating to a phone call.

How is Vision 2030 changing the business landscape for companies calling Saudi Arabia via letsdial?

Saudi Vision 2030 is driving rapid economic diversification, with new sectors like tourism, entertainment, fintech, and renewable energy opening to foreign investment. This means letsdial users are increasingly connecting with a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs and international joint-venture partners across non-oil industries. Business conversations are becoming more international in style, though cultural and religious norms remain important to respect.

Can letsdial provide a Riyadh virtual number to support business development in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, letsdial offers Saudi virtual numbers with Riyadh (11) and Jeddah (12) area codes that present a local Saudi presence for inbound calls. This is particularly useful for companies engaged in the Vision 2030 expansion sectors, where trust and local presence signals are important to Saudi government and corporate decision-makers. Inbound calls route to your global team while callers see a local Saudi number.

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Saudi Arabia

+966

Country code

International prefix

Saudi Arabia's country code +966 connects the Arab world's largest economy, undergoing historic transformation under Vision 2030. With massive infrastructure projects, a diversifying economy, and a young, tech-savvy population, Saudi Arabia is the Gulf's most significant growth market.

Best hours:9 AM – 5 PM AST

Language:Arabic

Capital:Riyadh

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🇸🇦

Saudi Arabia

SA · Middle East

+966

dial code

Capital

Riyadh

Currency

SAR (﷼)

Language

Arabic

Population

37 million

Best calling window

9 AM – 5 PM AST

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

Arabia Standard Time (AST) · UTC+3

Country

Saudi Arabia

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+966

ISO Alpha-3

SAS

Loading map…

Riyadh

Capital

Live

Riyadh

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

Arabia Standard Time (AST)

Quick Facts

CurrencySAR (﷼)

LanguageArabic

Population37 million

GMT OffsetUTC+3

Best Hours9 AM – 5 PM AST

Step by step

How to call Saudi Arabia from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+966

Country code

Saudi Arabia international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

234 5678

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

00—966—11—234 5678

Shorthand (works from any device): +966 11 234 5678

Calling Guide

Best time to call Saudi Arabia · Arabia Standard Time (AST)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling Saudi Arabia
with letsdial

Start free trial

Get a local +966 number

A Riyadh +966 11 or Jeddah +966 12 caller ID signals a Saudi business presence — essential in a market where WhatsApp precedes voice and local credibility matters.

Saudi Arabia and 50+ countries, one plan

Call Saudi Arabia and 50+ global markets from one letsdial subscription — no per-city charges for Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam.

Full call analytics

Track every Saudi Arabia call in AST (UTC+3) — monitor answer rates during business hours and team performance in one dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +966 number lets your team reach Saudi contacts from any device, regardless of location.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach Saudi Arabia and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to Saudi Arabia and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +966 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

Saudi Arabia& neighbouring countries

Saudi numbers under +966 use 2-digit city codes — Riyadh (11), Jeddah (12), Dammam (13). Always drop the leading 0 when dialling internationally. Mobile numbers use 05x: +966 5x xxx xxxx.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Saudi Arabiacurrent234 5678+966 11 234 5678

United Arab Emirates123 4567+971 4 123 4567

India1234 5678+91 11 1234 5678

United Kingdom7123 4567+44 20 7123 4567

Germany1234 5678+49 30 1234 5678

France23 45 67 89+33 1 23 45 67 89

Good to know

Tips for calling Saudi Arabia

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Saudi mobiles use 05x — drop the 0 from abroad

Saudi mobile numbers use the 05x prefix domestically (e.g. 055 xxx xxxx). From abroad, drop the 0: +966 5x xxx xxxx. Landlines: 011 Riyadh, 012 Jeddah, 013 Eastern Province — drop the 0 and prefix with +966.

WhatsApp is the standard business channel in Saudi Arabia

WhatsApp is the dominant platform for professional communication across Saudi Arabia. Send a WhatsApp message before calling — it is expected for most business outreach and is significantly more effective than a cold call.

Show a local +966 caller ID

Saudi contacts frequently screen calls from unknown international numbers. A letsdial +966 11 (Riyadh) or +966 12 (Jeddah) caller ID signals a locally established business and substantially improves answer rates.

AST is UTC+3 — working week is Sunday to Thursday

Saudi Arabia Standard Time is UTC+3 with no daylight saving. The working week runs Sunday to Thursday. Business hours are typically 8 AM–5 PM AST. From London (GMT), Saudi Arabia is 3 hours ahead.

Market data

Saudi Arabia communication insights

97%

Internet penetration

97% of Saudi Arabia's population uses the internet, reflecting strong national digital infrastructure.

99%

Mobile users

97% of Saudi residents use mobile phones, with 5G deployed in major cities.

88%

Smartphone owners

80% of Saudi adults own smartphones; WhatsApp is the dominant channel for business messaging.

88%

Digital businesses

88% of Saudi businesses have adopted digital tools as part of Vision 2030 economic reforms.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

Saudi Arabia calling FAQs

Frequently asked about Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's country code is +966. Riyadh uses area code 11, Jeddah uses 12, and Mecca also uses 12. Dammam and the Eastern Province use 13, and Medina uses 14. Mobile numbers start with 05x. In letsdial, dial +966 11 XXX XXXX for Riyadh or +966 50 XXX XXXX for a Saudi mobile — no trunk prefix is used after the country code.

Get a local Saudi Arabia number

Get a local Saudi Arabia number in minutes.

Build trust with Saudi Arabia customers using a local +966 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

How to call Saudi Arabia from abroad

Benefits of calling Saudi Arabiawith letsdial

Get a local +966 number

Saudi Arabia and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

Saudi Arabia& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling Saudi Arabia

Saudi mobiles use 05x — drop the 0 from abroad

WhatsApp is the standard business channel in Saudi Arabia

Show a local +966 caller ID

AST is UTC+3 — working week is Sunday to Thursday

Saudi Arabia communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about Saudi Arabia

Get a local Saudi Arabia number in minutes.

Benefits of calling Saudi Arabia
with letsdial