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Middle East · +966

Saudi Arabia phone number format

  • Country code +966
  • Trunk prefix 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

What does a Saudi Arabia phone number look like?

8 or 9 digits after the trunk 0. Landlines are written +966 XX XXX XXXX and mobiles +966 5X XXX XXXX. In full international (E.164) format a Saudi Arabia mobile is written +966501234567: the country code +966, with the national trunk prefix 0 removed, and no spaces or punctuation.
The anatomy of a Saudi Arabia phone number under ITU-T E.164: country calling code 966, then the national destination code, then the subscriber number, to a maximum of fifteen digits after the plus. Nationally a Saudi Arabia number is written +966 XX XXX XXXX with the trunk prefix 0; in E.164 the prefix and the spacing both come off.
National formatting is for people. E.164 is for databases, APIs, and caller ID — store Saudi Arabia numbers in the right-hand form.

Format rules

Country code
+966
National number length
8 or 9 digits after the trunk 0
Trunk prefix
0
Used only domestically. Removed in international format.
Landline pattern
+966 XX XXX XXXX
Mobile pattern
+966 5X XXX XXXX

Examples

Saudi Arabia phone number examples

These are format patterns showing digit grouping and prefix rules. They are examples of shape, not working numbers; do not use them to test a live call path.

TypeWritten domesticallyInternational (E.164)
Landline011 123 4567+966111234567
Mobile05X XXX XXXX+966501234567

A quirk of Saudi Arabia numbering

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

Validation

How to validate a Saudi Arabia number

Validating a phone number is three separate checks, and conflating them is the usual source of bugs:

  1. Format: does it match the shape for Saudi Arabia? 8 or 9 digits after the trunk 0, after the country code and with the 0 stripped.
  2. Allocation: is the prefix actually in use? A number can be the right length and still belong to an unallocated range.
  3. Reachability: is there a live subscriber? Only a carrier lookup (HLR or equivalent) answers that, and it is the only check that catches disconnected numbers.

For form validation, check format only and be permissive: accept spaces, dashes, brackets, and a leading 0 then normalise. Rejecting a real customer because they typed their own number the way they normally write it is a far more expensive error than storing one badly formatted row.

Store in E.164 (+966501234567) and format for display at render time. Storing the display format is how a database ends up with the same person recorded four different ways.

Format any number instantly

Paste a number into the free phone number formatter to convert it to E.164 and see whether it matches Saudi Arabia’s format rules. No sign-up.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Saudi Arabia phone number look like?
8 or 9 digits after the trunk 0. A landline is written +966 XX XXX XXXX and a mobile +966 5X XXX XXXX. In full international format that becomes +966501234567.
How do I write a Saudi Arabia number in international format?
Start with +966, remove the leading 0 from the national number, then append the rest with no spaces or punctuation. +966 11 123 4567 becomes +966111234567.
How many digits is a Saudi Arabia phone number?
8 or 9 digits after the trunk 0.
How do I tell a Saudi Arabia mobile from a landline?
By the prefix. Mobiles follow the pattern +966 5X XXX XXXX, while landlines follow +966 XX XXX XXXX.
Should I store phone numbers with the plus sign?
Yes. Store every number in E.164: leading +, country code, national number, no spaces or punctuation, up to 15 digits. It is the only format that is unambiguous internationally, and it is what makes deduplication work. Format for display, store canonical.

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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