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International dialing

How to call Saudi Arabia from United States

  • Exit code 011
  • Country code +966
  • Drop the leading 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling Saudi Arabia from United States

Dial 011 (the United States exit code), then 966 (Saudi Arabia’s country code), then the local number with its leading 0 removed. So +966 11 123 4567 is dialled as 011 966 11 123 4567. From a mobile you can dial +966 directly instead of 011.
Dialling Saudi Arabia from United States: start with 011, the exit code for United States, then 966 for Saudi Arabia, then the local number with its leading 0 dropped. The diagram shows those three blocks and the leading-zero rule that catches most people out.
The + shortcut on a mobile replaces the exit code entirely, which is why it works on any SIM in any country.

The dialing sequence

Exit code from United States
011
Saudi Arabia country code
+966
Trunk prefix to remove
0
Domestic numbers start with 0; drop it from abroad.
Full sequence
011 + 966 + local number (drop the leading 0)
Time in Saudi Arabia
AST (UTC+3, no DST)
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4).

Step by step

Dialing Saudi Arabia from United States

Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.

  1. 1

    Dial 011: the exit code for United States

    011 tells the United States network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel.
  2. 2

    Dial 966: the country code for Saudi Arabia

    966 is Saudi Arabia's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from.
  3. 3

    Drop the leading 0 from the local number

    Numbers written for domestic use in Saudi Arabia begin with 0. That digit is a national trunk prefix and is not part of the number. Remove it: +966 11 123 4567 is dialled as 11 123 4567 after the country code.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    Saudi Arabia is on AST (UTC+3, no DST) and United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.

Worked examples

What the number looks like at each stage

These are format patterns showing digit grouping, not working numbers.

Written in Saudi ArabiaDialed from United States
Landline011 123 4567011 966 11 123 4567
Mobile+966 5X XXX XXXX011 966 50 123 4567
From a mobile (+)n/a+966 50 123 4567

One thing about Saudi Arabia

The Saudi working week runs Sunday to Thursday, so Friday calls almost never connect.

Frequently asked questions

How do I call Saudi Arabia from the United States?
Dial 011, then 966, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. For example, +966 11 123 4567 is dialled as 011 966 11 123 4567.
What is the country code for Saudi Arabia?
+966. From United States you reach it by dialling 011 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
Do I include the 0 when calling Saudi Arabia?
No. The leading 0 is only used inside Saudi Arabia. Including it from abroad is the most common reason the call fails to connect.
How do I call a Saudi Arabia mobile from United States?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 011 + 966 + the mobile number without its leading 0. A Saudi Arabia mobile in international format looks like +966 50 123 4567.
What is the time difference between United States and Saudi Arabia?
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and Saudi Arabia is on AST (UTC+3, no DST). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call Saudi Arabia over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

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