How to Call Saudi Arabia from the US

To call Saudi Arabia from the US, dial 011 + 966 + number (drop the leading 0). Riyadh landline example: 011-966-11-XXXXXXX. Jeddah: 011-966-12-XXXXXXX. Saudi mobile: 011-966-5X-XXXXXXX (domestic prefix 05X, no leading 0).

The 011 is the US international exit code. The 966 is Saudi Arabia’s country code. This pattern works from any US landline or mobile — on a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +966 11 XXXXXXX.

How to dial Saudi Arabia from the US

Follow these four steps every time:

1. Dial 011 — the US exit code for all international calls. On a mobile keypad, long-press 0 to enter + as a shortcut; + works identically to 011 on smartphones.
2. Dial 966 — Saudi Arabia’s ITU-assigned country code, fixed for every Saudi number regardless of city or type.
3. Dial the area or mobile code without its leading 0. Saudi numbers in domestic format start with a 0 trunk prefix. That 0 is dropped for international dialing. Riyadh’s domestic 011 becomes 11; a mobile’s 055 becomes 55.
4. Dial the local subscriber number exactly as written.

The complete pattern: 011 966 <area or mobile code minus leading 0> <local number>.

If you see a Saudi number already formatted with +966 (common on business cards and websites), replace the + with 011 from a US landline, or dial it as-is from a smartphone.

Saudi Arabia area codes by city

Saudi landlines use geographic area codes. The leading 0 shown in domestic format is dropped for all international calls.

City	Region	Domestic prefix	Dial from US (after 011 966)
Riyadh	Central	011	11
Jeddah / Makkah / Taif	Western	012	12
Dammam / Khobar / Dhahran	Eastern	013	13

Riyadh example: a landline written 011 234 5678 domestically is dialed from the US as 011 966 11 234 5678.

Jeddah example: 012 345 6789 becomes 011 966 12 345 6789.

Saudi mobile numbers do not use city area codes. Every mobile starts with 05 in domestic format — drop the 0 and the number begins with 5 after the country code. The digit after the 5 indicates the carrier: 50/55 for STC, 53/56 for Mobily, 59 for Zain, among others.

Saudi Arabia phone number format

Saudi numbers follow a consistent nine-digit national structure once the trunk 0 is removed:

• Landlines: a two-digit area code (11, 12, 13, and so on) followed by a seven-digit local number — for example +966 11 234 5678.
• Mobiles: the prefix 5X followed by seven digits — for example +966 55 123 4567.

In both cases you dial exactly nine digits after the 966 country code. Telecom numbering in the Kingdom is overseen by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), which allocates geographic codes and mobile-carrier prefixes.

Time zone: Arabia Standard Time (AST)

Saudi Arabia uses a single time zone nationwide and does not observe daylight saving time:

• AST (Arabia Standard Time) — UTC+3, in effect all year, from Riyadh to Jeddah to Dammam.

Because the Kingdom never changes its clocks, the offset to the US moves only when the US shifts for daylight saving.

US time zone	Offset during US DST (Mar–Nov)	Offset during US winter (Nov–Mar)
Eastern (ET)	Saudi +7 h	Saudi +8 h
Central (CT)	Saudi +8 h	Saudi +9 h
Mountain (MT)	Saudi +9 h	Saudi +10 h
Pacific (PT)	Saudi +10 h	Saudi +11 h

Important for business callers: the Saudi working week runs Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend — the opposite tail of the week from the US. The reliable overlap window for standard business hours is an early US morning: 8 AM–10 AM ET reaches Saudi offices around 3 PM–6 PM AST, before most close for the day.

US to Saudi Arabia calling costs

Costs vary significantly by calling method:

• US carrier per-minute (no plan): AT&T and Verizon charge roughly $1–$3 per minute to Saudi Arabia without an international add-on. Fine for a call or two per month.
• Carrier international add-on packages: $5–$15 per month reduces rates to roughly $0.05–$0.30 per minute. Worthwhile above ~30 minutes/month.
• VoIP providers (including DialPhone): flat per-minute rates to Saudi Arabia that typically undercut carrier add-ons, with no monthly minimum. For US–Saudi business calling at any volume, a VoIP plan on DialPhone business phone pays for itself quickly.
• Free app-to-app (WhatsApp, Signal): works if the Saudi side also uses the app and has Wi-Fi/data. Not viable for reaching most Saudi landlines or businesses.

See DialPhone pricing for current per-minute Saudi Arabia rates included in each plan tier.

Calling Saudi mobile vs landline from the US

From a US perspective, the dialing procedure is the same: 011 966 <number without leading 0>. The difference lies in the number format itself:

• Landlines have a two-digit geographic area code (11, 12, 13) followed by a seven-digit local number — nine digits total after the country code.
• Mobiles start with the 5X carrier prefix and have no area code — also nine digits total after the country code.

Identifying the type from the number: any Saudi number starting with 05 (domestic) or 5 (international format) is a mobile. Numbers starting with 01 domestically — 11, 12, 13, and so on — are landlines.

VoIP providers including DialPhone typically apply a single flat rate regardless of landline vs mobile destination, which simplifies budgeting when you call a mix of Saudi offices and mobiles.

SMS to Saudi Arabia and business use cases

US-to-Saudi SMS works from most US mobile plans — the same international add-on that covers calls usually covers texts. Address the message to +966 followed by the mobile number without its leading 0.

US–Saudi B2B context where this matters most:

• Energy and engineering: US firms working with Saudi energy, construction, and Vision 2030 infrastructure programs coordinate across a 7–8 hour offset and a Sunday–Thursday week. Predictable scheduling and recognizable caller ID reduce missed connections.
• Trade and logistics: US exporters and freight partners reaching counterparties in Jeddah (a major Red Sea port) and Dammam benefit from a reliable international line rather than per-minute carrier surprises.
• Technology and services: US software and professional-services teams selling into the Kingdom find that verified caller ID and consistent availability improve answer rates with Saudi gatekeepers.

DialPhone’s AI receptionist helps absorb the time-zone asymmetry: when a Saudi contact calls your US DialPhone number outside US business hours, the AI receptionist answers, qualifies the inquiry, and routes or escalates based on rules you set — so a 7-hour offset and an opposite weekend never cost you the opportunity.

FAQ

Calling Saudi Arabia FAQ

What is the country code for Saudi Arabia? +

Saudi Arabia's country code is +966. From a US landline or mobile, you reach it by dialing the US international exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 966. From a smartphone that supports E.164 dialing you can substitute + for 011, so +966 works identically.

Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling Saudi Arabia from the US? +

Yes. Saudi numbers in domestic format start with a 0 — for example, Riyadh landlines are written 011 XXXXXXX locally and mobiles start with 05X. That leading 0 is the Saudi trunk prefix and is only used for calls placed inside the Kingdom.

When calling from the US, replace the leading 0 with 011 966. So the Riyadh area code 011 becomes 11, and a mobile written 055 123 4567 becomes 011 966 55 123 4567. Leaving the 0 in is the most common reason a US-to-Saudi call fails to connect.

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

Saudi mobile numbers always start with 05 in domestic format, where the digit after the 5 identifies the carrier — for example 050/055 (STC), 053/056 (Mobily), or 059 (Zain). Dial 011 + 966 + the mobile number without its leading 0.

Example: a number written as 055 123 4567 is dialed from the US as 011 966 55 123 4567. Saudi mobiles do not use a city area code — the 5X prefix identifies the network, not a location.

What is the best time to call Saudi Arabia from the US? +

Saudi Arabia observes Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3, all year with no daylight saving. That puts it 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time during US daylight saving (March–November) and 8 hours ahead during US winter.

The reliable business-hours overlap is an early-morning US call: 8 AM–10 AM ET reaches Saudi offices around 3 PM–6 PM AST. Note also that the Saudi working week runs Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend.

How much does it cost to call Saudi Arabia from the US? +

Standard US carrier rates without an international plan run roughly $1–$3 per minute to Saudi Arabia. Carrier international add-on packages reduce this to around $0.05–$0.30 per minute for a monthly fee.

VoIP providers including DialPhone charge flat per-minute rates to Saudi destinations that are typically lower than carrier add-on plans, with no monthly minimum for low-volume callers.

Can I call Saudi toll-free (800) numbers from the US? +

Saudi 800 freephone numbers are generally reachable only from within Saudi Arabia. Calling one from the US will usually fail to connect, or — if it does route — connect at a standard international rate rather than free.

If you need to reach a Saudi business, ask your contact for their geographic +966 11/12/13 number or a direct mobile instead of an 800 line.

What time zone is Saudi Arabia in for calling? +

The whole country uses Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3, with no seasonal change. Because Saudi Arabia does not switch its clocks, the offset to the US shifts only when the US itself changes for daylight saving.

During US daylight saving (mid-March to early November), Saudi Arabia is 7 hours ahead of Eastern, 8 ahead of Central, 9 ahead of Mountain, and 10 ahead of Pacific. In US winter, add one hour to each of those offsets.

How do I save a Saudi number in my phone contacts? +

Save Saudi numbers in full E.164 international format: +966 followed by the number without its leading 0. For example, a Riyadh landline 011 234 5678 should be saved as +966 11 234 5678, and a mobile 055 123 4567 as +966 55 123 4567.

This format works from any country without modification, prevents dialing errors when roaming, and is the standard format expected by CRMs and VoIP platforms including DialPhone.

Start calling Saudi Arabia today

Whether you make occasional calls to a Saudi supplier or run a team with daily US–Saudi volume, the right setup eliminates per-minute sticker shock and missed calls.

• DialPhone pricing — compare per-minute Saudi Arabia rates across plans
• Start a free trial — call Saudi Arabia from day one, no commitment
• DialPhone business phone — full VoIP platform for international calling
• AI receptionist — handle inbound calls from Saudi Arabia 24/7

Related guides

• How to call internationally from the US — exit code 011 and the per-country rules
• Number porting guide — bring your existing number to DialPhone
• STIR/SHAKEN explained — why caller ID attestation matters for international calls

Call other countries from the US

Part of the How to Call Internationally from the US hub — exit code 011, country codes, and the per-country mobile rules.

• How to call the UK from the US
• How to call Germany from the US
• How to call France from the US
• How to call Italy from the US
• How to call Spain from the US